Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cholesterol granuloma causing nerve damage in a dog's tail nerves
By Tanaka, Yusuke et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc·2022·Department of Veterinary Medicine, Japan·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Cholesterol granuloma associated with degenerative neuropathy in the cauda equina of a dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
An 8-year-old Labrador Retriever experienced mild unsteadiness in its hind legs about four months after surgery for a back issue. Over the next six years, the dog's coordination worsened, leading to significant mobility problems. An autopsy revealed a cholesterol granuloma, a type of growth, in the area of the spine where nerves were damaged. This growth was linked to nerve degeneration and inflammation. Unfortunately, the dog did not recover from these complications, highlighting the potential long-term effects of spinal issues.
People also search for: dog hind leg ataxia · Labrador Retriever back surgery complications · cholesterol granuloma in dogs
Abstract
An 8-y-old Labrador Retriever dog had mild ataxia of the hindlimbs 4 mo after lumbosacral dorsal laminectomy for intervertebral disk disease. Ataxia of the hindlimbs gradually worsened over the next 6 y. On autopsy, gross lesions were not recognized in the spinal cord. Histopathology revealed an intradural extraparenchymal cholesterol granuloma in the cauda equina associated with remnant nerve roots. Nerves associated with the cholesterol granuloma had axonal degeneration, myelin vacuolation, and edema. In those foci, macrophages were increased in number between nerve fibers. Immunohistochemistry for neurofilament protein and Luxol fast blue staining highlighted the presence of remnant axons and myelin sheaths within the granuloma. Inflammatory cell infiltrates in the granuloma were mainly macrophages and CD3- or CD20-immunopositive T or B lymphocytes, respectively. We conclude that the cholesterol granuloma likely formed subsequent to degenerative neuropathy in the cauda equina.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35993288/