Cervical spinal intradural arachnoid cysts in related, young pugs

Abstract

Seven related young pugs were diagnosed with cervical spinal intradural arachnoid cysts by magnetic resonance imaging (n = 6) and myelography (n = 1). All dogs were presented with skin abrasions on their thoracic limbs and non-painful neurological deficits, indicating a C1-T2 myelopathy. In all six dogs examined by magnetic resonance imaging not only the spinal arachnoid cyst but also a concomitant, most likely secondary, syringohydromyelia was confirmed. Pedigree analysis suggested a genetic predisposition for spinal arachnoid cysts in this family of pugs. Generalised proprioceptive deficits more pronounced in the thoracic limbs suggesting a focal cervical spinal cord lesion, with concomitant skin abrasions on the dorsal aspect of the thoracic limbs in a young pug, should alert veterinarians to the possibility of cervical spinal arachnoid cysts.

Short‐ and long‐term outcome and magnetic resonance imaging findings after surgical treatment of thoracolumbar spinal arachnoid diverticula in 25 Pugs

“…Previously described histological examinations of Pug SADs in most cases revealed dura mater fibrosis and in 1 case—adhesions between pia mater and arachnoidea . In addition, postmortem histopathological examination results of 1 study case did not differ from previous study findings involving various breed dogs as well, revealing dura mater fibrosis, infiltration with inflammatory cells, adhesions between pia mater and arachnoid, and secondary myelopathy consisting of Wallerian degeneration, axonal swelling, and syringohydromyelia of the adjacent white matter . To our knowledge, postmortem histopathological changes are not described specifically for Pugs affected with SAD until now.…”

“…It occurs in humans and companion animals, including dogs and cats . In dogs, SAD occurs in cervical and thoracolumbar areas . Common breeds affected by SAD in the cervical area include Pugs, Rottweilers, and Labrador Retrievers, whereas in the thoracolumbar area Pugs, French bulldogs, and West Highland white terriers seem to be more frequently affected .…”

“…2,[7][8][9] In dogs, SAD occurs in cervical and thoracolumbar areas. 2,3,7,10,11 Common breeds affected by SAD in the cervical area include Pugs, Rottweilers, and Labrador Retrievers, 3,7,10 whereas in the thoracolumbar area Pugs, French bulldogs, and West Highland white terriers seem to be more frequently affected. 3,4,6,7 Large and giant breed dogs are predisposed to have cervical SAD and middle to small breed dogs are predisposed to develop thoracolumbar SAD.…”

Lumbar subarachnoid diverticulum secondary to a sarcoma in the sacral canal of a dog

“…In human beings and veterinary species, extramedullary intraspinal ‘cysts’ containing CSF can occur as primary congenital lesions, termed arachnoid ‘cysts’, or as sequelae to chronic inflammation or trauma, in which case the term subarachnoid ‘cyst’ is used (Duncan and others 1978, Parker and others 1983, Swany and others 1984, Nottmeier and others 2009). This disorder was also reported in a family of young pugs as a genetic predisposition (Rohdin and others 2014). The subarachnoid diverticulum in the case described here was most likely formed due to occlusion of the normal flow of CSF by the undifferentiated sarcoma located caudally.…”

Thoracolumbar meningeal fibrosis in pugs

“…This was, however, not unequivocally supported by the overlap in range of duration of clinical signs before euthanasia in pugs without (1.5‐30 months) and those with inflammatory infiltration of the arachnoidea. Mild inflammatory meningeal changes have previously been described in pugs with SAD …”