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Peer-reviewed veterinary case report

Dog with eye melanoma later developed spinal tumor causing paralysis

By Rovesti, Gian Luca et al.·Published in Veterinary Ophthalmology·2001·View original on Crossref

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Original publication title: Suspected latent vertebral metastasis of uveal melanoma in a dog: a case report

Species:
dog

Plain-English summary

A 6-year-old male Pomeranian was brought to the vet for discomfort in his right eye, which turned out to be a malignant eye tumor called uveal melanoma. The eye was surgically removed, and the dog recovered well initially. However, 18 months later, he developed sudden weakness in his back legs. X-rays and other tests showed that a tumor had spread to his spine, causing pressure on the spinal cord. Unfortunately, this was confirmed to be a metastasis from the original eye cancer.

People also search for: dog eye tumor treatment · Pomeranian spinal problems · uveal melanoma in dogs · dog back leg weakness causes

Abstract

A six‐year‐old intact male Pomeranian was examined because of right eye discomfort. An iris neoplasm was suspected and the eye was enucleated. A uveal melanoma with malignant features was diagnosed. The dog recovered uneventfully from surgery. A general physical examination was performed at 3‐month intervals afterwards without any detectable problem, but 18 months after the first presentation the dog suffered a rapid, progressive paraplegia. Radiographic examination and myelography revealed a spinal cord compression at the level of the 8th thoracic (T8) vertebral body. Surgical exploration of the area revealed a potential vertebral neoplasm: histopathology confirmed a melanoma which was suspected to have resulted from metastasis from the previously diagnosed uveal melanoma.

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Original publication on Crossref: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1463-5224.2001.00130.x