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Intraspinal epidermoid cyst in a dog.
J Tomlinson1, R J Higgins, R A LeCouteur
1Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia 65211.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
|December 1, 1988
Summary
A congenital epidermoid cyst in the spinal cord caused progressive gait deficits in a young Rottweiler. This rare condition led to the dog's euthanasia due to the severity of the neurological impairment.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Neurology
- Comparative Pathology
- Canine Neurobiology
Background:
- Transverse myelopathy is a debilitating neurological condition affecting the spinal cord.
- Congenital spinal cord abnormalities can manifest as progressive neurological deficits in young animals.
- Epidermoid cysts are rare, benign tumors that can occur within the central nervous system.
Observation:
- A 2-year-old female Rottweiler presented with progressive gait deficits.
- Clinical signs were consistent with spinal cord dysfunction between the T2 and L3 vertebral levels.
- Diagnostic imaging, including myelography, identified an intramedullary spinal cord lesion.
Findings:
- Necropsy confirmed an intramedullary epidermoid cyst located between the T13 and L1 spinal cord segments.
- The cyst's intramedullary location contributed to the observed myelopathy.
- Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of an epidermoid cyst.
Implications:
- This case highlights the importance of considering congenital spinal cord anomalies in young dogs with progressive neurological deficits.
- Intramedullary epidermoid cysts, though rare, can cause significant neurological impairment requiring careful diagnostic evaluation.
- Understanding the etiology and clinical presentation of such lesions aids in veterinary diagnosis and management of canine spinal cord diseases.