Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with meningeal lymphoma causing brain lining swelling on MRI
By Madden, M et al.·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2025·Hospital for Small Animals, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Meningeal null cell lymphoma causing diffuse pachymeningeal contrast enhancement in a dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 2-year-old female neutered Pug was brought in for worsening balance issues, facial weakness, and episodes of stiffness. An MRI showed thickening of the protective layers around her brain, and tests of her spinal fluid indicated inflammation. Despite trying immunosuppressive treatments, her condition only improved briefly before she had multiple relapses, ultimately leading to her being euthanized. The final diagnosis revealed that she had a rare type of cancer affecting the brain's protective layers.
People also search for: dog balance problems · Pug facial weakness · dog brain cancer treatment · dog meningitis symptoms · dog euthanasia decision
Abstract
Diffuse pachymeningeal contrast enhancement is an uncommon imaging finding in dogs and current understanding of its aetiologies in veterinary medicine is limited. A 2-year-old female neutered Pug presented with chronic progressive vestibular signs, facial nerve paralysis, obtundation and episodic decerebellate rigidity. A magnetic resonance imaging study of the head revealed diffuse pachymeningeal thickening and contrast enhancement involving the caudal fossa and falx cerebri. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed marked neutrophilic pleocytosis. Infectious disease testing was negative and a tentative diagnosis of intracranial idiopathic hypertrophic pachymeningitis was made. Immunosuppressive treatment resulted in a short period of clinical improvement. The patient subsequently suffered multiple relapses which failed to respond to alternative immunosuppressive strategies, necessitating euthanasia. Histopathological findings supported a meningeal null cell lymphoma. While rare, neoplastic causes of diffuse pachymeningeal thickening and contrast enhancement should be considered.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39658889/