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A true "triphasic" pattern: thoracolumbar spinal tumor in a young dog
Davide De Lorenzi1, Massimo Baroni, Maria Teresa Mandara
1Clinica Veterinaria S. Marco, Padua, Italy. davide.delorenzi@fastwebnet.it
Veterinary Clinical Pathology
|May 25, 2007
Summary
A spinal nephroblastoma, a rare canine tumor, was diagnosed in a young Bernese Mountain Dog using cytologic examination. This diagnosis was aided by identifying a unique triphasic pattern of cells in the tumor sample.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Pathology
- Canine Oncology
- Cytopathology
Background:
- Spinal tumors are a significant concern in veterinary neurology.
- Nephroblastomas, while rare, can occur in the spinal canal of young dogs.
- Early and accurate diagnosis is crucial for effective treatment and prognosis.
Observation:
- An 8-month-old Bernese Mountain Dog presented with progressive hindlimb weakness and paresis.
- Intradural mass identified at the L2-L3 vertebral level.
- Cytologic examination of mass fragments revealed mesenchymal, epithelial, and undifferentiated hyperchromatic cells.
Findings:
- The triphasic cytologic pattern, combined with mass location, led to a diagnosis of spinal nephroblastoma.
- Histologic examination confirmed the cytologic diagnosis.
- This is the first reported case of a triphasic pattern identified in a cytologic sample of spinal nephroblastoma.
Implications:
- Recognizing the triphasic cytologic pattern is vital for definitive diagnosis of spinal nephroblastomas.
- This finding can improve diagnostic accuracy in similar veterinary cases.
- Highlights the importance of advanced cytologic techniques in diagnosing rare canine spinal tumors.
