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Intramedullary spinal cord damage associated with intervertebral disk material in a dog
Sean G Sanders1, Rodney S Bagley, Patrick R Gavin
1Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-6610, USA.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
|December 14, 2002
Summary
Intramedullary disk extrusion, a rare spinal cord condition in dogs, was diagnosed using MRI and confirmed by histology. Surgical decompression led to substantial improvement, highlighting a potential treatment for this condition.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Neurology
- Comparative Pathology
- Neurosurgery
Background:
- Intervertebral disk extrusions into the spinal cord are exceptionally rare in veterinary literature.
- Previous reports primarily relied on necropsy findings for diagnosis.
- The pathophysiology is hypothesized to involve forceful injection of disk material into the spinal cord.
Observation:
- A 3-year-old Miniature Doberman Pinscher presented with acute clinical signs suggestive of spinal cord disease.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed lesions consistent with intramedullary disk extrusion.
- Alterations in the nucleus pulposus appearance on MRI indicated underlying intervertebral disk disease.
Findings:
- Definitive diagnosis of intramedullary disk extrusion requires histologic examination.
- Histologic analysis of a biopsy specimen confirmed mature, degenerate intervertebral disk material within the spinal cord.
- The dog experienced significant clinical improvement following surgical spinal cord decompression.
Implications:
- This case demonstrates the utility of advanced imaging like MRI in diagnosing intramedullary disk extrusion.
- Surgical decompression is a viable treatment option, leading to substantial recovery.
- Histologic confirmation remains the gold standard for definitive diagnosis of this rare condition.