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Updated: May 12, 2026

Intraoperative Ultrasound in Spinal Surgery
Published on: August 17, 2022
Imaging diagnosis-infiltrative lipoma causing spinal cord and lumbar nerve root compression in a dog
Amalia Agut1, Agustina Anson1, Antonio Navarro1
1Department of Animal Veterinary Medicine and Sugery, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100, Spain.
Abstract:
A 12-year-old, male, fox terrier dog presented with an abnormal gait of the left pelvic limb. Computed tomography revealed a large, homogeneous, hypoattenuating, noncontrast enhancing mass within the left epaxial muscles that invaded the L5-6 vertebral canal and caused spinal cord compression. Imaging findings were consistent with an infiltrative lipoma. The mass was removed and a left hemilaminectomy was performed in the affected area. Histopathology confirmed the mass to be an infiltrative lipoma. The dog recovered and regained neurologic function within 2 weeks. Computed tomography assisted preoperative planning by characterizing the shape, size, and location of the mass.

