Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
CT scans help diagnose brachial plexus tumors causing lameness in dogs
By McCarthy, R J et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·1993·Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Preoperative diagnosis of tumors of the brachial plexus by use of computed tomography in three dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Three dogs with forelimb lameness lasting from three months to a year were found to have tumors affecting the brachial plexus, which is a network of nerves in the shoulder area. Despite previous surgeries for unrelated issues, the tumors were not diagnosed until advanced imaging with computed tomography (CT) was used. The CT scans, performed under anesthesia, helped identify the tumors' size and location accurately, which matched what the surgeons found during operations. This method proved effective in diagnosing these difficult cases, allowing for better treatment planning.
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Abstract
Three dogs with forelimb lameness of 3 months' to 1 year's duration were examined by computed tomography and determined to have a tumor of the brachial plexus. In each case, the clinician had been unable to determine the cause of lameness by other means, and in 2 dogs, surgery had been performed on the affected limb for unrelated conditions prior to diagnosis of the tumor. Computed tomography was performed by use of a third-generation scanner, with dogs under general anesthesia and positioned in dorsal recumbency. Intravenous contrast enhancement with iodinated contrast material was used to help differentiate vascular structures, and a 5-mm scanning width allowed detection of small tumors. In all dogs, approximate tumor location in the transverse plane, invasiveness, and relationship to surrounding structures compared favorably between computed tomographic images and surgical findings.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8428837/