Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with meningeal melanoma diagnosed by MRI and spinal fluid tests
By Wu, Chih-Ching et al.·Published in The Journal of veterinary medical science·2021·National Taiwan University Veterinary Hospital·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Diagnosis of meningeal melanomatosis in a dog using magnetic resonance imaging and cerebrospinal fluid findings.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 13-year-old spayed female Labrador Retriever was brought in because she was having trouble moving her legs and was getting progressively weaker. Tests, including MRI, showed abnormal growths in her brain and spinal cord, and a fluid analysis indicated the presence of cancerous cells. Unfortunately, despite the diagnosis, the condition was severe, and the dog had to be euthanized. This case highlights the seriousness of meningeal melanomatosis, a rare type of brain cancer in dogs.
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Abstract
A 13-year-old spayed female Labrador Retriever was presented with severe progressive tetraparesis. The neuroanatomic localization was the C1-C5 spinal cord segments with brainstem or cranial nerve involvement. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed diffuse T1-weighted and T2-weighted hyperintense lesions with strong contrast enhancement spreading through meninges of the cervical spinal cord and the brain. Few small round areas showing T1-weighted hyperintensity and T2-weighted hypointensity were scattered within the lesions. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed neoplastic round cells and possible melanocytes. Malignant melanoma was suspected. At necropsy, the brain and the entire spinal cord were covered with thick, dark membranous tissue. Based on histopathologic findings, a positive response against Melan-A, and no melanoma identified outside the central nervous system, primary meningeal melanomatosis was diagnosed.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33250483/