Intramedullary Spinal Cord Neoplasia in 53 Dogs (1990–2010): Distribution, Clinicopathologic Characteristics, and Clinical Behavior

Abstract

Background: Intramedullary neoplasms of the canine spinal cord are infrequently reported. Objective: To describe distribution, clinicopathologic characteristics, radiographic findings, and clinical features of canine intramedullary spinal tumors.Methods: Retrospective series of histologically confirmed canine intramedullary spinal tumors. Contingency tables were generated for categorical variables (breed, sex, treatment, pain, chief complaint, localization, histology, imaging, and site). Associations were assessed by Fisher's exact, Wilcoxon rank sum test, t-test, and one-way ANOVA.Results: Intramedullary spinal cord tumors comprised 16% (53/331) of all tumors of the spinal cord. Primary tumors were diagnosed in 66% (35/53) of cases, with neuroepithelial-origin tumors comprising 51% (18/35) of all primary neoplasms. Intraparenchymal metastases of transitional cell carcinoma and hemangiosarcoma accounted for 66% (6/18 each) of all secondary tumors. Primary tumors were more likely to affect younger dogs. Dogs with intramedullary metastases were most commonly presented for primary myelopathic signs (8/18, 44%). The majority of all tumors (52.8%) occurred in the T3-L3 spinal cord segments. All dogs with cervical neurolocalization had primary tumors. Dogs with metastatic lesions had a shorter duration of clinical signs before presentation, but there was no difference in survival time between dogs with primary as compared with secondary tumors.Conclusions: Intramedullary spinal cord tumors are uncommon. Primary intramedullary spinal cord tumors are more common than secondary intramedullary spinal cord tumors and tend to occur in the cervical spinal cord of younger dogs. Intramedullary metastases occur in older dogs, are rarely asymptomatic, and neurologic dysfunction is a common clinical presentation. Dogs with primary tumors may have a protracted clinical course compared with those with intramedullary metastases.

Cervical hyperaesthesia in dogs: an epidemiological retrospective study of 185 cases

“…CH is a very common clinical sign in dogs and has been associated with many different diseases (Tipold & Jaggy , Coates & Dewey , Thomas , Webb , Rusbridge & Jeffery , Pancotto et al , Cornelis et al ). In this retrospective study we have reported the diseases that led to CH in a population of dogs from a referral practice in the United Kingdom.…”

Remission after complete excision of an intramedullary hemangioma with an identifiable tumor plane in a dog

“…Hemangiomas are benign vascular tumors of endothelial cell origin, characterized by entanglements of capillary‐sized to cavernous vascular channels . They occur in the canine central nervous system, especially the cerebrum and the spinal cord . In human and veterinary medicine, there has been debate regarding whether hemangiomas represent arteriovenous malformations, vascular hamartomas, or endothelial neoplasms .…”

“…[6][7][8] Hemangioma/−blastomas are rare, representing about 2% of human spinal cord tumors and up to 12% of intramedullary tumors. 2 Spinal hemangioma/−blastoma has usually been diagnosed at necropsy in dogs 6,9,10 and accounted for 2 of 53 (4%) canine intramedullary tumors. 10 Hemangiomas are benign vascular tumors of endothelial cell origin, characterized by entanglements of capillary-sized to cavernous vascular channels.…”

“…2 Spinal hemangioma/−blastoma has usually been diagnosed at necropsy in dogs 6,9,10 and accounted for 2 of 53 (4%) canine intramedullary tumors. 10 Hemangiomas are benign vascular tumors of endothelial cell origin, characterized by entanglements of capillary-sized to cavernous vascular channels. 6,7 They occur in the canine central nervous system, especially the cerebrum and the spinal cord.…”

“…6,7 They occur in the canine central nervous system, especially the cerebrum and the spinal cord. [6][7][8][9][10] In human and veterinary medicine, there has been debate regarding whether hemangiomas represent arteriovenous malformations, vascular hamartomas, or endothelial neoplasms. 6,11 Hemangioblastoma is a similar vascular tumor, but the vascular network is separated by stromal cells.…”