Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Rare chest tumor causing lameness in young French Bulldog
By Ackerman, Leah H et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2025·Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Multimodal Treatment of a Peripheral Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumor Originating From the Thoracic Cavity in a Dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 1.5-year-old male French Bulldog was brought to the vet because he was limping on his left front leg and showing signs of Horner's syndrome, which can cause drooping of the eyelid and a sunken eye. After tests, the vet found a large tumor in his chest that had spread to other areas. The dog received a combination of chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy based on specific tests to tailor the treatment. While he showed some improvement for a few months, the cancer eventually spread further, and sadly, the dog was euthanized after seven months of treatment.
People also search for: dog limping left leg · French Bulldog Horner's syndrome · dog cancer treatment options
Abstract
Peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor (pPNET) is a very rare, highly malignant tumor encountered in young dogs, with only four necropsy cases in the veterinary literature. A 1.5-year-old male intact French Bulldog presented for evaluation of progressive left forelimb lameness and ipsilateral Horner's syndrome. Whole body computed tomography identified a 12 cm mediastinal mass with extension into the vertebral canal and multifocal metastatic lesions. Histological and immunohistochemical results were consistent with a pPNET. Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy were administered. Precision-based tumor testing, including DNA sequencing and chemosensitivity assays, were performed to guide systemic treatment recommendations. A partial remission was observed 3.5 months from presentation based on imaging and improved clinical status. After 7 months of treatment, diffuse metastatic disease, including intracranial spread, was observed and the dog was euthanized.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40095239/