Intramedullary spinal cord metastasis in the dog. 1990

D J Waters, and D W Hayden
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul 55108.

Intramedullary spinal cord metastasis (ISCM) was diagnosed in three dogs with signs of myelopathy. The clinicopathologic features of ISCM in these and previously reported cases in the veterinary and human literature were compared. Myelopathic signs associated with ISCM may be the initial clinical manifestation of malignancy or may develop in the patient with known malignancy. Pain, a frequent manifestation of extradural compressive myelopathy, is not a consistent feature of ISCM. Survey spinal radiographs are usually unrewarding and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) abnormalities nonspecific. Myelography is indicated to differentiate intramedullary lesions from more common extradural compressive lesions. Myelographic interpretation may be difficult, and intramedullary tumors must be differentiated from spinal cord edema or hemorrhage. Evidence of widely disseminated malignancy should increase suspicion for ISCM; hemangiosarcoma and lymphosarcoma should be considered the most likely histologic types. CSF cytology may be helpful in the diagnosis of patients with lymphosarcoma. Prognosis is poor due to the frequent presence of disseminated disease, although temporary response to corticosteroid therapy may be achieved. More aggressive therapeutic approaches, such as spinal irradiation and microsurgical resection of metastases, have been advocated in humans but have not been reported in the dog. Although it is an uncommon complication of systemic malignancy, ISCM should be considered in the differential diagnosis of myelopathy in the dog.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008228 Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin Any of a group of malignant tumors of lymphoid tissue that differ from HODGKIN DISEASE, being more heterogeneous with respect to malignant cell lineage, clinical course, prognosis, and therapy. The only common feature among these tumors is the absence of giant REED-STERNBERG CELLS, a characteristic of Hodgkin's disease. Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma,Diffuse Mixed Small and Large Cell Lymphoma,Diffuse Mixed-Cell Lymphoma,Diffuse Small Cleaved-Cell Lymphoma,Diffuse Undifferentiated Lymphoma,Lymphatic Sarcoma,Lymphoma, Atypical Diffuse Small Lymphoid,Lymphoma, Diffuse,Lymphoma, Diffuse, Mixed Lymphocytic-Histiocytic,Lymphoma, High-Grade,Lymphoma, Intermediate-Grade,Lymphoma, Low-Grade,Lymphoma, Mixed,Lymphoma, Mixed Cell, Diffuse,Lymphoma, Mixed Lymphocytic-Histiocytic,Lymphoma, Mixed Small and Large Cell, Diffuse,Lymphoma, Mixed-Cell,Lymphoma, Mixed-Cell, Diffuse,Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin's,Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin, Familial,Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkins,Lymphoma, Nonhodgkin's,Lymphoma, Nonhodgkins,Lymphoma, Pleomorphic,Lymphoma, Small Cleaved Cell, Diffuse,Lymphoma, Small Cleaved-Cell, Diffuse,Lymphoma, Small Non-Cleaved-Cell,Lymphoma, Small Noncleaved-Cell,Lymphoma, Small and Large Cleaved-Cell, Diffuse,Lymphoma, Undifferentiated,Lymphoma, Undifferentiated, Diffuse,Lymphosarcoma,Mixed Small and Large Cell Lymphoma, Diffuse,Mixed-Cell Lymphoma,Mixed-Cell Lymphoma, Diffuse,Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma,Reticulosarcoma,Reticulum Cell Sarcoma,Reticulum-Cell Sarcoma,Sarcoma, Lymphatic,Sarcoma, Reticulum-Cell,Small Cleaved-Cell Lymphoma, Diffuse,Small Non-Cleaved-Cell Lymphoma,Small Noncleaved-Cell Lymphoma,Undifferentiated Lymphoma,Diffuse Lymphoma,Diffuse Lymphomas,Diffuse Mixed Cell Lymphoma,Diffuse Mixed-Cell Lymphomas,Diffuse Small Cleaved Cell Lymphoma,Diffuse Undifferentiated Lymphomas,High-Grade Lymphoma,High-Grade Lymphomas,Intermediate-Grade Lymphoma,Intermediate-Grade Lymphomas,Low-Grade Lymphoma,Low-Grade Lymphomas,Lymphatic Sarcomas,Lymphocytic-Histiocytic Lymphoma, Mixed,Lymphocytic-Histiocytic Lymphomas, Mixed,Lymphoma, Diffuse Mixed-Cell,Lymphoma, Diffuse Undifferentiated,Lymphoma, High Grade,Lymphoma, Intermediate Grade,Lymphoma, Low Grade,Lymphoma, Mixed Cell,Lymphoma, Mixed Lymphocytic Histiocytic,Lymphoma, Non Hodgkin,Lymphoma, Non Hodgkin's,Lymphoma, Non Hodgkins,Lymphoma, Nonhodgkin,Lymphoma, Small Non Cleaved Cell,Lymphoma, Small Noncleaved Cell,Lymphosarcomas,Mixed Cell Lymphoma,Mixed Cell Lymphoma, Diffuse,Mixed Lymphocytic-Histiocytic Lymphoma,Mixed Lymphocytic-Histiocytic Lymphomas,Mixed Lymphoma,Mixed Lymphomas,Mixed-Cell Lymphomas,Non Hodgkin Lymphoma,Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma,Non-Cleaved-Cell Lymphoma, Small,Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma,Noncleaved-Cell Lymphoma, Small,Nonhodgkin's Lymphoma,Nonhodgkins Lymphoma,Pleomorphic Lymphoma,Pleomorphic Lymphomas,Reticulosarcomas,Reticulum Cell Sarcomas,Reticulum-Cell Sarcomas,Sarcoma, Reticulum Cell,Small Cleaved Cell Lymphoma, Diffuse,Small Non Cleaved Cell Lymphoma,Small Non-Cleaved-Cell Lymphomas,Small Noncleaved Cell Lymphoma,Small Noncleaved-Cell Lymphomas,Undifferentiated Lymphoma, Diffuse,Undifferentiated Lymphomas
D008297 Male Males
D009192 Myelography X-ray visualization of the spinal cord following injection of contrast medium into the spinal arachnoid space. Cisternography, Myelographic,Myelographic Cisternography,Cisternographies, Myelographic,Myelographic Cisternographies,Myelographies
D011379 Prognosis A prediction of the probable outcome of a disease based on a individual's condition and the usual course of the disease as seen in similar situations. Prognostic Factor,Prognostic Factors,Factor, Prognostic,Factors, Prognostic,Prognoses
D003937 Diagnosis, Differential Determination of which one of two or more diseases or conditions a patient is suffering from by systematically comparing and contrasting results of diagnostic measures. Diagnoses, Differential,Differential Diagnoses,Differential Diagnosis
D004283 Dog Diseases Diseases of the domestic dog (Canis familiaris). This term does not include diseases of wild dogs, WOLVES; FOXES; and other Canidae for which the heading CARNIVORA is used. Canine Diseases,Canine Disease,Disease, Canine,Disease, Dog,Diseases, Canine,Diseases, Dog,Dog Disease
D004285 Dogs The domestic dog, Canis familiaris, comprising about 400 breeds, of the carnivore family CANIDAE. They are worldwide in distribution and live in association with people. (Walker's Mammals of the World, 5th ed, p1065) Canis familiaris,Dog
D005260 Female Females
D006394 Hemangiosarcoma A rare malignant neoplasm characterized by rapidly proliferating, extensively infiltrating, anaplastic cells derived from blood vessels and lining irregular blood-filled or lumpy spaces. (Stedman, 25th ed) Angiosarcoma,Angiosarcomas,Hemangiosarcomas
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia

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