Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with spinal tumor causing leg weakness and incontinence
By Paek, Matthew et al.·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·2015·From the Red Bank Veterinary Hospital, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Primary lumbar extradural hemangiosarcoma in a dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 9-year-old male golden retriever was brought in because he was having trouble using his left back leg and was also leaking urine and feces. An MRI revealed a mass pressing on his spinal cord, which was surgically removed and found to be hemangiosarcoma, a type of cancer. After surgery, he received chemotherapy, including doxorubicin and oral cyclophosphamide. Remarkably, 15 months later, there were no signs of cancer returning or spreading, indicating a positive outcome from the treatment.
People also search for: dog leg weakness · golden retriever cancer treatment · hemangiosarcoma in dogs · dog urinary incontinence causes
Abstract
A 9 yr old castrated male golden retriever weighing 36 kg was presented for evaluation of progressive left pelvic limb paresis and fecal and urinary incontinence. MRI demonstrated an extradural, ovoid mass compressing the lumbar spinal cord. Surgical excision of the mass was performed. Histologically, the mass was consistent with hemangiosarcoma with no involvement of the adjacent vertebrae. The dog underwent a doxorubicin-based chemotherapy protocol with the addition of oral cyclophosphamide. After completion of chemotherapy, the dog was evaluated q 4 mo for restaging. Clinicopathological evidence of primary tumor recurrence or metastatic disease was not detected for 15 mo after initial diagnosis and treatment. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of a primary extradural hemangiosarcoma in the lumbar vertebral column in a dog. The clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and outcome are also discussed.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25955146/