Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with nerve lymphoma causing progressive paralysis and no MRI
By Müller, Marie-Kerstin et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2025·AniCura Potsdam GmbH, Germany·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Neurolymphomatosis of T-Cell Origin in a Dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 10-year-old mixed-breed dog was brought in with worsening neurological issues, like weakness and trouble moving. Tests including CT, MRI, and a spinal tap showed signs of T-cell lymphoma affecting the nervous system, but chemotherapy did not help improve the dog's condition. Unfortunately, the dog passed away, and a postmortem exam revealed significant nerve damage caused by the lymphoma. This case emphasizes the need for thorough testing, including spinal fluid analysis, when dogs show neurological symptoms.
People also search for: dog neurological problems · T-cell lymphoma in dogs · dog chemotherapy effectiveness · why is my dog weak and unsteady
Abstract
A 10-year-old mixed-breed dog was presented with progressive neurological deficits suggestive of polyneuropathy. CT and MRI revealed no relevant abnormalities, whereas the CSF analysis showed a marked lymphocytic pleocytosis, immunocytochemically classified as T-cell lymphoma. Chemotherapy ensued with no improvement of clinical signs. Cerebrospinal fluid reanalysis still revealed a mild lymphocytic pleocytosis. MRI of the brain and spinal cord solely showed a reduced ventral subarachnoid and epidural space (Th11-L2) and mild enlargement of the central canal in this area. Postmortem examination revealed thickening of the spinal nerve roots and ganglia. Histologically, a marked intraspinal-subdural and intraneural, as well as intra-ganglionic, infiltration by large lymphocytes in the peripheral nervous system was visible. Immunohistochemically, the infiltrating lymphoblasts were CD3 positive, confirming T-cell origin. Neurolymphomatosis is a rarely described neoplastic disease in dogs. The present case highlights the importance of analysis of CSF in neurologically abnormal dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40702997/