Spinal T.V.T. Treated with Surgical Excision and Chemotherapy in a Dog

Background: Canine transmissible venereal tumor (TVT) is a round-cell tumor of dogs, which occurs by cell transplantation. It is usually located on the external genitalia, and is transmitted by coitus. It may occasionally be acquired by sniffng or licking the genitalia of an affected animal. Lesions may be present in the other parts of the body, such as the skin, rectum,and nasal or oral cavities. Metastasis of the TVT is uncommon, mainly occurring in immunocompromised dogs. It may affect organs such as the liver, spleen, kidney, lung, and musculature, and rarely, may be detected in the central nervous system. In this report, we describe the occurrence of a TVT causing spinal cord compression in a dog, and the results of its treatment with hemilaminectomy and chemotherapy.Case: A six-year-old male Dalmatian dog was referred to a veterinary teaching hospital with nonspecifc abdominal pain. Laboratory examination showed no abnormalities; survey radiography revealed a moderate fecal retention. The dog received painkillers and dietary guidelines. However, the patient was brought again to the veterinary teaching hospital nine dayslater with paraplegia, worse in the left limb than in the right, but with normal nociception. There was a cutaneous trunci reflex cut-off at the T10 vertebra, also worse on left side than on right, along with spinal thoracolumbar hyperesthesia. During endotracheal intubation for general anesthesia for performing a cerebrospinal fluid tap and myelography, a small mass was observed in the palatine tonsil, a sample of which was collected for cytological analysis. The cerebrospinal fluid examination showed albuminocytologic dissociation, and myelography revealed an asymmetrical epidural compression over the T8 vertebra. Surgery was performed with a lateral approach to the T8 vertebra, and a 3-cm epidural brown mass was found, which was completely excised and subjected to histopathological examination. The histopathological fndings of the mass excised from the spine revealed neoplastic proliferation of poorly differentiated, round tumor cells with large, round, central or peripheral nuclei, and slightly eosinophilic, occasionally vacuolar cytoplasm. The propagating cells formed groups separated by a delicate fbrovascular stroma, consistent with the histopathology of TVT. Upon immuno histochemical staining, the neoplastic cells were found to be positive for MHC II, CD45RA, and lysozyme, but negative for cytokeratin, CD3, CD20, and CD117. The cytological examination of the tonsillar mass confrmed TVT. The dog was treated with vincristine, but after the third cycle the treatment was discontinued due to the choice of the owner. A year after the treatment, the dog presents only a mild spinal ataxia.Discussion: Tumor cells can be transmitted through genital mucous membrane-contact at coitus. Hence, the TVT lesions are often located on the external genitalia, but this was not observed in this case. Non-cutaneous metastases, which have an incidence of about 1%, can occur on the lips and tonsils, as was observed in the present case, or in the inguinal lymphnodes, liver, kidneys, mesentery, bones, eye, brain, and abdominal cavity. The pathological characteristics of TVT is quite variable and depends on the host immune response; however, there was no evidence of immunosuppression or malnutrition in the present case. The patient might have acquired the neoplasia in the oral cavity probably from licking or sniffng the preputial or vaginal discharges of an infected dog, and therefore, the primary tumor was probably the one in the tonsil,which later metastasized to the spine. This case presents an atypically located TVT, without genital occurrence, that was successfully treated by surgery and chemotherapy. This report also indicates that TVT is also an important differential diagnosis of spinal neoplasia.Keywords: spinal neoplasms, canine transmissible venereal tumor, treatment

Mielomalácia aguda por Spirocerca lupi em cão. Relato de caso

A three-year-old crossbreed male dog was brought to the Neurology Unit because of an acute paraplegia. A clinical neurological examination indicated a spinal thoracolumbar syndrome evidenced by spastic paralysis of the hind limbs with no signs of deep pain sensation. Whereas the radiographic exams did not show any abnormality, cerebrospinal fluid changes indicated inflammation and hemorrhage. Serum titer for Toxoplasma gondii was 1:1024. The bacterial culture of the cerebrospinal fluid was negative. Since the animal did not improve with symptomatic treatment, it was euthanatized. The necropsy showed an extensive spinal hemorrhage from T8 to T11. Microscopic examination showed that paraplegia was due to the presence of an immature female Spirocerca lupi in the nervous tissue causing hemorrhagic myelomalacia.Cão macho, sem raça definida, de 3 anos de idade, foi atendido no Serviço de Neurologia por apresentar paraplegia de início súbito. Ao exame clínico-neurológico constatou-se uma síndrome medular toracolombar, estando os membros pélvicos com paralisia espástica e com ausência de sensibilidade dolorosa profunda. Enquanto os exames radiográficos não evidenciavam nenhuma anormalidade, as alterações do líquor indicavam necrose ou hemorragia medular. O RIFI para Toxoplasmose foi de 1:1024. O exame bacterológico do líquor foi negativo. Devido à falta de resposta ao tratamento, o animal foi sacrificado. Na necrópsia encontraram-se hemorragias no segmento medular compreendido entre T8-TI1. No exame histopatológico constatou-se a presença de um exemplar fêmea imaturo de Spirocerca lupi no tecido nervoso causando mielomalácia hemorrágica e conseqüentemente o quadro de paraplegia

Functional neurologic recovery in two dogs diagnosed with severe luxation of the vertebral column

Traumatic injuries to the vertebral column, spinal cord, and cauda equina nerve roots occur frequently in human and veterinary medicine and lead to devastating consequences. Complications include partial or complete loss of motor, sensory, and visceral functions, which are among the main causes of euthanasia in dogs. The present case report describes neurological functional recovery in two dogs that were treated surgically for severe spinal fracture and vertebral luxation. In the first case, a stray, mixed breed puppy was diagnosed with thoracolumbar syndrome and Schiff-Scherrington posture, as well as a T13 caudal epiphyseal fracture with 100% luxation between vertebrae T13 and L1; despite these injuries, the animal did show deep pain sensation in the pelvic limbs. Decompression through hemilaminectomy and spinal stabilization with vertebral body pins and bone cement were performed, and the treatment was supplemented with physiotherapy and acupuncture. In the second case, a mixed breed dog was diagnosed with a vertebral fracture and severe luxation between L6 and L7 after a vehicular trauma, but maintained nociception and perineal reflex. Surgical stabilization of the spine was performed using a modified dorsal segmental fixation technique Both patients showed significant recovery of neurological function. Complete luxation of the spinal canal observed radiographically does not mean a poor prognosis, and in some cases, motor, sensory, and visceral functions all have the potential for recovery. In the first case the determining factor for good prognosis was the presence of deep pain perception, and in the second case the prognosis was determined by the presence of sensitivity and anal sphincter tone during the initial neurological examination.Lesões traumáticas à coluna vertebral, medula espinhal e raízes nervosas da cauda equina ocorrem frequentemente na medicina veterinária e humana, levando a sequelas devastadoras, como perda parcial ou completa das funções motoras, sensoriais e viscerais, sendo a ocorrência destas sequelas uma das principais causas de eutanásia em cães. O objetivo do presente trabalho é relatar a recuperação da função neurológica em dois cães com fratura vertebral e deslocamento do canal medular de mais de 100% tratados cirurgicamente. O primeiro caso ocorreu em um filhote de cão sem raça definida (SRD) encontrado na rua com síndrome toracolombar e presença de postura de Schiff-Scherrington, constatando-se fratura em epífise caudal do corpo vertebral de T13 com luxação grave entre as vértebras T13 e L1, porém o animal apresentava sensibilidade dolorosa profunda em membros pélvicos. O tratamento utilizado neste caso foi descompressão através de hemilaminectomia e estabilização da coluna com pinos nos corpos vertebrais e cimento ósseo, além de fisioterapia e acupuntura. O segundo caso ocorreu em cão SRD atropelado, que apresentou fratura e luxação entre L6, L7 e grande desvio entre os fragmentos, que porém apresentava nocicepção e reflexo perineal preservado. O tratamento realizado foi a estabilização da coluna através da técnica de fixação segmentar dorsal modificada. Ambos os pacientes apresentaram recuperação significativa da função neurológica, permanecendo com discreta paresia de membros posteriores. O deslocamento de 100% do canal vertebral à avaliação radiográfica não significa prognóstico ruim, havendo em alguns casos chance de recuperação das funções motoras, sensoriais e viscerais. No primeiro caso o fator determinante para o bom prognóstico foi a presença de percepção da dor profunda, e no segundo caso, o prognóstico foi determinado pela presença de sensibilidade e tônus no esfíncter anal durante o exame neurológico inicial

Polyp in urinary bladder of a dog - a case report

Pólipos são formações benignas raramente encontradas no aparelho urinário tanto na medicina veterinária como na medicina humana. A etiologia ainda não foi identificada, mas acredita-se que ocorra por infecção recorrente do trato urinário, caracterizando uma doença chamada de cistite polipóide. Descreve-se no presente artigo um caso de pólipo vesical em cadela castrada Cocker Spaniel de 11 anos com histórico de hematúria há dois anos. Foi identificada infecção urinária por Serratia spp e ao exame ultrassonográfico observou-se duas massas pedunculadas irregulares em face cranioventral e espessamento da parede vesical. O animal foi submetido à cistectomia parcial para remoção das massas onde foram observadas várias outras pequenas formações próximas à mesma região. O exame histopatológico confirmou o diagnóstico de pólipos vesicais. Para o tratamento da doença, além da excisão cirúrgica, a infecção deve ser tratada adequadamente. O prognóstico é bom, porém casos de recidivas podem ocorrer especialmente quando a remoção é feita apenas a partir da mucosa vesical.Polyps are benign formations rarely found in the urinary tract both in veterinary medicine and human medicine. The etiology was not identified, but it is believed to occur by recurrent infection of the urinary tract, characterizing a disease called polypoid cystitis. It was described in this report a case found in a neutered 11 years-old bitch Cocker Spaniel with a history of hematúria for two years. It was identified a urinary infection by Serratia spp and the ultrassond examination showed two irregular pedunculated masses in the cranioventral portion and thickening of the bladder wall. The animal was underwent parcial cystectomy to remove the masses where it was observed other small formations near the same region; the material was referred to histopathological examination to confirm the diagnosis of bladder polyps. For treatment of disease, in addition to surgical excision, the infection should be treated properly. The prognosis is good, but cases of recurrence may occur especially when the removal is made only from the bladder mucosa

Mielomalácia aguda por Spirocerca lupi em cão. Relato de caso

Cão macho, sem raça definida, de 3 anos de idade, foi atendido no Serviço de Neurologia por apresentar paraplegia de início súbito. Ao exame clínico-neurológico constatou-se uma síndrome medular toracolombar, estando os membros pélvicos com paralisia espástica e com ausência de sensibilidade dolorosa profunda. Enquanto os exames radiográficos não evidenciavam nenhuma anormalidade, as alterações do líquor indicavam necrose ou hemorragia medular. O RIFI para Toxoplasmose foi de 1:1024. O exame bacterológico do líquor foi negativo. Devido à falta de resposta ao tratamento, o animal foi sacrificado. Na necrópsia encontraram-se hemorragias no segmento medular compreendido entre T8-TI1. No exame histopatológico constatou-se a presença de um exemplar fêmea imaturo de Spirocerca lupi no tecido nervoso causando mielomalácia hemorrágica e conseqüentemente o quadro de paraplegia