Lumbar round cell sarcoma in a 10-week-old rottweiler puppy

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Neurology
• Canine Oncology
• Comparative Pathology

Background:

• Spinal neoplasms are uncommon in juvenile dogs.
• Previous reports include various tumors, but not round cell sarcomas.
• This study addresses a gap in the documentation of spinal tumors in young canines.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a case of extradural round cell sarcoma in a juvenile dog.
• To emphasize the diagnostic value of MRI in young animals with spinal signs.
• To expand the differential diagnosis for spinal tumors in puppies.

Main Methods:

• A 10-week-old Rottweiler puppy presented with acute ataxia and lameness.
• Neurological examination localized a T3-L3 myelopathy.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed an extradural mass; post-mortem examination, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry confirmed the diagnosis.

Main Results:

• An extradural round cell sarcoma was identified in a young dog.
• The tumor extended from the mid-L3 to caudal-L4 vertebrae.
• Histopathology and immunohistochemistry confirmed the specific tumor type.

Conclusions:

• Spinal tumors should be considered in juvenile dogs with acute neurological signs.
• MRI is crucial for diagnosing spinal cord lesions in very young animals.
• Round cell sarcoma is a newly recognized spinal tumor type in young dogs.