Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with malignant tibial nerve tumor treated by partial nerve
By Alexander Spencer-Taylor et al.·Published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science·2026·Southern Counties Veterinary Specialists, Independent Vetcare (IVC) Evidensia, Ringwood, United Kingdom, CH·View original on DOAJ →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Case Report: Partial neurectomy and limb-sparing treatment for SOX-10 expressing epithelioid malignant nerve sheath tumour of the tibial nerve
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
An 8.5-year-old neutered male Dobermann was brought in because he couldn't put weight on his left back leg and was in severe pain when his hock was flexed. Imaging tests revealed a thickened segment of the left tibial nerve, indicating a rare type of tumor. The veterinarian performed a limb-sparing surgery to remove the tumor while preserving the leg's function. Remarkably, the dog recovered quickly and, after 12 and 24 months, showed no signs of the tumor returning or spreading.
People also search for: dog leg pain · Dobermann tumor treatment · limb-sparing surgery for dog tumor
Abstract
IntroductionEpithelioid-variant malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumours (EMPNST) are rare in veterinary medicine and typically have poor outcomes. Limb-sparing partial neurectomy is used for distal peripheral nerve sheath tumours but has not previously been described for epithelioid variants.Case descriptionAn 8.5-year-old neutered male Dobermann presented with non–weight-bearing left pelvic limb lameness and severe pain on hock flexion. CT and ultrasound showed a homogeneously thickened, contrast-enhancing segment of the left tibial nerve with muscle atrophy. Limb-sparing partial neurectomy with 2-cm margins was performed. Histopathology revealed a poorly demarcated infiltrative malignant neoplasm, completely excised. Immunohistochemistry was strongly positive for Sox-10 and negative for S-100. The dog improved rapidly, and at 12- and 24-month follow-ups showed no recurrence or metastasis.ConclusionThis case demonstrates an atypical anatomical and histopathological presentation of canine EMPNST and shows that complete limb-sparing partial neurectomy can achieve long-term remission without compromising limb function.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on DOAJ: https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2026.1773674