Spinal dural ossification causing neurological signs in a cat

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Neurology
• Comparative Pathology
• Neurosurgery

Background:

• Spinal cord compression is a significant cause of neurological deficits in felines.
• Dural ossification, characterized by bone formation within the dura mater, is an uncommon etiology for spinal compressive disorders.

Observation:

• A six-year-old Ragdoll cat presented with progressive tetraparesis and gait abnormalities.
• Spinal imaging revealed an intradural extramedullary/extradural lesion compressing the C1-T2 spinal cord segments.
• Histopathology confirmed dural ossification as the cause of spinal cord compression.

Findings:

• Surgical decompression provided temporary improvement, but recurrence of spinal cord compression due to dural ossification occurred.
• The cat experienced a severe neurological decline, leading to euthanasia ten months post-surgery.
• Necropsy confirmed extensive dural ossification causing spinal cord compression and secondary degenerative changes.

Implications:

• This case represents the first documented instance of spinal dural ossification in a feline.
• Dural ossification should be considered in the differential diagnosis for cats presenting with progressive myelopathy.
• Further research is warranted to understand the pathogenesis and long-term management of feline spinal dural ossification.