Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Young dog with lymphoma causing spine bone growth and weakness
By Vascellari, Marta et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc·2007·Histopathology Department, Italy·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Vertebral polyostotic lymphoma in a young dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 20-month-old female Golden Retriever was brought in because she was having trouble walking and wasn't eating well. Tests showed she had low blood cell counts and high calcium levels, and X-rays revealed unusual bone growth in her spine. A biopsy confirmed she had a rare type of lymphoma affecting her bones, specifically a form called polyostotic T-cell lymphoma. Unfortunately, this condition is serious, and the dog may require aggressive treatment, such as chemotherapy, to manage the lymphoma and improve her symptoms.
People also search for: dog walking problems · Golden Retriever lymphoma treatment · dog not eating and weak
Abstract
An unusual clinical presentation of lymphoma with vertebral involvement in a dog is reported. A 20-month-old intact female Golden Retriever presented with progressive paraparesis and anorexia. Complete blood count and serum biochemistry profile demonstrated pancytopenia and hypercalcemia. Ventral fusion of the lumbar vertebrae by new bony tissue deposition was evident on X-ray and CT scan. Fine needle aspiration revealed neoplastic lymphoid cells in lymph nodes and bone marrow. Histologically, vertebral bone and osteophytes, liver, bone marrow, kidney, and lymph nodes were diffusely infiltrated by neoplastic, lymphoid cells, with scant cytoplasm and round hyperchromatic nuclei. Polyostotic and medullary T-cell lymphoma with spondylosis was diagnosed. Lymphoma mainly affecting bone is uncommon in the dog. The present case differs from previously described polyostotic lymphomas in clinical signs of the disease, mainly attributable to spondylarthrosis. In addition, lymphomatous proliferation was associated with osteoproductive lesions of the vertebrae.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17402620/