Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with neck pain and lameness diagnosed with vertebra melanoma tumor
By Michaelidou, Elli Elizabeth et al.·Published in Frontiers in veterinary science·2024·Institute of Biodiversity, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Case report: MRI and CT imaging features of a melanocytic tumour affecting a cervical vertebra in an adult dog, and review of differential diagnosis for T1W-hyperintense lesions.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 7-year-old Lhasa Apso was brought in for limping in the left front leg and neck pain. Imaging tests showed a tumor on the C4 vertebra in the neck, which was causing the symptoms. The tumor was surgically removed, and the dog received radiotherapy and a melanoma vaccine afterward. The dog initially recovered well, but 18 months later, it experienced neck pain again and was euthanized after the owner declined further tests.
People also search for: dog neck pain · Lhasa Apso tumor treatment · melanoma vaccine for dogs · dog limping front leg
Abstract
A 7-year-old Lhasa Apso presented with a history of left thoracic limb lameness and neck pain. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a well-defined, extradural lesion that was hyperintense on T1-weighted (T1W) images and isointense on T2-weighted (T2W) images and T2* images located at the left lamina of the C4 vertebra. Computed tomography showed an isoattenuating and contrast-enhancing mass centered on the left C4 vertebral lamina with associated osteolysis. The mass was surgically debulked, and histopathology revealed a malignant melanocytic tumour. The patient recovered completely and received radiotherapy and three doses of the melanoma vaccine as adjunctive treatment. Eighteen months following treatment, the patient presented with neck pain again, but further investigations were declined at this stage, and the patient was euthanised. To the author's knowledge, this is the first case report describing the imaging characteristics of a cervical extradural melanocytic tumour in a dog. This case illustrates the MRI and CT imaging features and treatment of a canine melanocytic tumour of the cervical vertebrae.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38655532/