Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Epidural melanoma causing posterior paresis in a horse.
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
- Year:
- 1977
- Authors:
- Traver, D S et al.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
An older gray stallion was brought in because he suddenly lost the ability to use his back legs, had trouble with bladder control, and showed a lack of feeling in his rear end. Tests showed that there was a problem with the lower part of his spinal cord, and the fluid around his brain and spinal cord was yellow. Despite some initial supportive care, the horse sadly passed away. A post-mortem examination found a single tumor called an epidural melanoma located in the spine, which had likely been there for a long time and was causing pressure on the spinal cord, leading to the horse's symptoms. Unfortunately, the treatment did not work, and the horse died.
Abstract
An aged gray stallion was examined because of fullminating posterior paresis, bladder paralysis, and perineal anesthesia. Lower motor neuron dysfunction was detected at the lumbosacral level of the spinal cord, and cerebrospinal fluid was yellow. After brief supportive treatment, the horse died. Necropsy revealed a single epidural melanoma at L5-6. The absence of cutaneous melanotic growth, absence of organ involvement, and extensive vertebral remodeling indicated the neoplasm to have been primary and to have been present for an extended period. Neurologic dysfunction was acute and progressive, as a result of spinal cord compression by the neoplasm.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/873844/