Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Spinal Cord Hamartomatous Myelodysplasia in 2 Horses With Clinical Neurologic Deficits.
- Journal:
- Veterinary pathology
- Year:
- 2016
- Authors:
- Taylor, K R et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathology · United States
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
Two horses that were put to sleep due to neurological problems were found to have a rare spinal cord condition called hamartomatous myelodysplasia, which means there was abnormal tissue growth in their spinal cords. The first horse was a 5-week-old Holsteiner colt who had muscle spasms and stiffness in his legs and back. The second horse was a 3-year-old Thoroughbred colt who showed worsening coordination and difficulty moving his back legs. Both horses had unusual masses in their spinal cords that disrupted normal tissue, but the locations and effects of these masses were different. Unfortunately, the treatment options for these conditions were not effective, leading to the decision to euthanize both horses.
Abstract
Two horses euthanized for neurologic deficits were diagnosed with hamartomatous myelodysplasia of the spinal cord. One was a 5-week-old Holsteiner colt exhibiting spasms of muscle rigidity in the extensor muscles of the limbs and epaxial muscles, and the other was a 3-year-old Thoroughbred colt exhibiting progressive ataxia and hypermetria in the pelvic limbs. Each had focal disorganization of the white and gray matter of the spinal cord forming a mass interspersed with neurons, glial cells, and disoriented axon bundles. In the Holsteiner colt, the mass was at the level of C5 and included islands of meningeal tissue contiguous with the leptomeninges. The mass occluded the central canal forming hydromyelia cranial to the occlusion. In the Thoroughbred colt, the mass was at the level of L1 on the dorsal periphery of the spinal cord and did not involve the central canal.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26917551/