Imaging diagnosis--spinal cord hemangioma in two dogs.

Abstract

Intramedullary masses are a dilemma due to the limited access for a nonsurgical biopsy, thus, accurate imaging characterization is crucial. Magnetic resonance imaging findings of two confirmed canine thoracic intramedullary hemangiomas are described. A capillary hemangioma was of mixed intensity but predominantly T2-hyperintense and mildly T1-hyperintense to spinal cord with strong contrast enhancement. A cavernous hemangioma had a target-like appearance in both T1-weighted (T1w) and T2-weighted (T2w) images. In T2w images there was a small isointense center surrounded by a relatively large hyperintense area. In T1w images, there was a large isointense centre with a relatively small hyperintense periphery. Such characteristics should prioritize hemangioma as a consideration in a progressive myelopathy due to an intramedullary mass.