Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with Spirocerca infection causing bone cancer and brain spread
By Pazzi, Paolo et al.·Published in Journal of the South African Veterinary Association·2013·Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Canine spirocercosis-associated extraskeletal osteosarcoma with central nervous system metastasis.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 5-year-old male Boerboel was brought to the vet after collapsing and showing signs of neurological issues. Upon examination, the vet found multiple lumps under the skin and swollen lymph nodes. Tests revealed that the dog had a type of bone cancer called extraskeletal osteosarcoma, which had spread to the brain and other organs. Unfortunately, the cancer was linked to a parasite infection (Spirocerca lupi) that caused serious complications. This case highlights a rare but severe condition in dogs, and the dog did not survive due to the extent of the disease.
People also search for: dog collapse symptoms · Boerboel cancer treatment · extraskeletal osteosarcoma in dogs · Spirocerca lupi infection in dogs
Abstract
A five-year-old male Boerboel presented for examination, collapsed for an unknown period of time. On clinical examination, multifocal subcutaneous masses and enlarged prescapular lymph nodes as well as neurological deficits that suggested a multifocal neurological syndrome were found. Fine needle aspirates of the prescapular lymph nodes revealed cells suggestive of osteosarcoma. Radiographs showed foci of mineralisation within the soft tissue masses as well as diffuse pulmonary metastasis and a caudodorsal mediastinal mass believed to be a Spirocerca lupi nodule. Computed tomography imaging, necropsy and histopathology confirmed S. lupi oesophageal neoplastic transformation (extraskeletal osteosarcoma), believed to be the primary lesion, and the majority of secondary metastasis to the brain, spine, heart, multiple muscular groups and abdominal organs. This is the first known report of extraskeletal osteosarcoma metastasis to the brain and spinal cord in a dog.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23718148/