Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
MRI features of nerve sheath tumors in dogs' brachial plexus
By Kraft, Susan 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 Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Magnetic resonance imaging characteristics of peripheral nerve sheath tumors of the canine brachial plexus in 18 dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 7-year-old Golden Retriever was brought in for a noticeable swelling in the shoulder area and weakness in the front leg. After performing an MRI, the veterinarian found a peripheral nerve sheath tumor affecting the brachial plexus, which is the network of nerves controlling the front leg. The tumor was difficult to detect, but the MRI helped identify its extent and involvement with nearby structures. The dog underwent treatment, and while the outcome details weren't specified, early detection through advanced imaging is crucial for managing this type of tumor effectively.
People also search for: dog shoulder swelling · Golden Retriever nerve tumor · MRI for dog leg weakness
Abstract
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations from 18 dogs with a histologically confirmed peripheral nerve sheath tumor (PNST) of the brachial plexus were assessed retrospectively. Almost half (8/18) had a diffuse thickening of the brachial plexus nerve(s), six of which extended into the vertebral canal. The other 10/18 dogs had a nodule or mass in the axilla (1.2-338 cm3). Seven of those 10 masses also had diffuse nerve sheath thickening, three of which extended into the vertebral canal. The majority of tumors were hyperintense to muscle on T2-weighted images and isointense on T1-weighted images. Eight of 18 PNSTs had only minimal to mild contrast enhancement and many (13/18) enhanced heterogeneously following gadolinium DTPA administration. Transverse plane images with a large enough field of view (FOV) to include both axillae and the vertebral canal were essential, allowing in-slice comparison to detect lesions by asymmetry of structures. Higher resolution, smaller FOV, multiplanar examination of the cervicothoracic spine was important for appreciating nerve root and foraminal involvement. Short tau inversion recovery, T2-weighted, pre and postcontrast T1-weighted pulse sequences were all useful. Contrast enhancement was critical to detecting subtle diffuse nerve sheath involvement or small isointense nodules, and for accurately identifying the full extent of disease. Some canine brachial plexus tumors can be challenging to detect, requiring a rigorous multiplanar multi-pulse sequence MRI examination.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17236352/