Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with spinal cord compression from fatty tumor causing leg weakness
By Morgan, Lee W et al.·Published in Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association·2007·Department of Georgetown Veterinary Hospital, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Imaging diagnosis--infiltrative lipoma causing spinal cord compression in a dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
An 11-year-old female Labrador retriever suddenly had trouble using her back legs. After imaging tests, vets found a fatty tumor pressing on her spinal cord. They performed surgery to remove the tumor, which was confirmed to be an infiltrative lipoma (a type of fatty growth). Thankfully, the dog made a full recovery and can walk normally again, even two years after the surgery.
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Abstract
An 11-year-old, 43 kg neutered female Labrador retriever dog developed acute pelvic limb paraparesis. In magnetic resonance images there was a T1- and T2-hyperintense extradural at the fifth thoracic intervertebral space that was causing marked compression of the spinal cord. In short tau inversion recovery and fat suppressed T1-weighted images the signal from the mass was decreased indicating it was of fatty origin. The mass was removed via a dorsal hemilaminectomy in the thoracic area. Histopathologic analysis confirmed the mass was an infiltrative lipoma. The dog recovered and is fully ambulatory 24 months after surgery. This report provides additional evidence that lipomas in the vertebral canal may be the source of pelvic limb neuropathy and also illustrates the value of magnetic resonance imaging in establishing the fatty nature of some soft tissue masses.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17236358/