Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Miniature Dachshund with spinal cord inflammatory pseudotumour
By Masamichi Yamashita et al.·Published in BMC Veterinary Research·2019·Joint Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University, GB·View original on DOAJ →
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Original publication title: Imaging and pathological findings of intramedullary inflammatory pseudotumour in a miniature dachshund: a case report
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 10-year-old female Miniature Dachshund was brought in for worsening coordination and weakness in her legs over the past two months. An MRI showed a mass in her spinal cord, and surgery was performed to remove it. Unfortunately, while her symptoms improved initially after the surgery, she later developed breathing problems and urinary issues, and sadly, she passed away 42 days later. This case highlights the challenges in diagnosing and treating inflammatory pseudotumors in dogs, especially when they occur in the spinal cord.
People also search for: dog ataxia treatment · Miniature Dachshund spinal cord mass · dog breathing problems after surgery
Abstract
Abstract Background Inflammatory pseudotumours (IPTs) are distinctive lesions consisting of myofibroblastic spindle cells and a variety of inflammatory cells. The aetiology of IPTs is unknown. Reports of IPTs in veterinary medicine have been scarse. Moreover, only one case of intradural extramedullary IPT has been previously reported. In this report, we introduce the first known case of canine IPT, which occurred in the parenchyma of the spinal cord. Case presentation A 10-year-old female Miniature Dachshund presented with a 2-month-long history of progressively worsening ataxia and tetraparesis. Neurological examination was consistent with a lesion involving the cervical spinal cord. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an intradural space-occupying lesion in the region of the fourth cervical vertebra. Dorsal laminectomy and resection of the mass were performed. Histopathological examination revealed the proliferation of immature spindle cells (fibroblasts/myofibroblasts and glial cells) and a highly cellular mixture of neutrophils, macrophages and lymphocytic cells. The mass was located in the parenchyma of the spinal cord and was diagnosed as an IPT occurring in the parenchyma of the spinal cord. No causative pathogen was detected. The dog’s symptoms improved, during the first month after surgery. However, neurological symptoms, such as laboured breathing and dysuria, subsequently worsened and the dog died 42 days after surgery. Conclusions The present study describes a canine case of IPT occurring in the parenchyma of the spinal cord. The diagnosis and determination of the site of the mass was difficult solely based on preoperative imaging in the present case. The outcome of this case was poorer than that observed in cases of canine extramedullary IPT and human intramedullary IPT, in which the patients exhibited recovery. The prognosis after surgical resection cannot be decided from the present case alone. However, patients should be monitored for potential serious complications and recurrence.
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Search related cases →Original publication on DOAJ: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-019-2213-1