Surgical and radiotherapy treatment of a spinal cord ependymoma in a dog

Aust Vet J. 2006 Jan-Feb;84(1-2):36-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.2006.tb13121.x.

Abstract

A 4-year-old Beagle dog was presented for investigation of a left pelvic limb gait abnormality. Neurolocalisation indicated a lumbar (L2 to L5) spinal cord lesion. On magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), an intramedullary mass was demonstrated at L3. The mass was partially removed under general anaesthesia and a diagnosis of ependymoma was made on histological examination. The dog was treated with postoperative orthovoltage x-ray radiation (total dose; 44 Gy given in 11 fractions over a 4 week period) combined with low dose carboplatin (25 mg/m2). The dog was alive 16 months after surgery without further neurological deficits. No further tumour growth was detected on subsequent MRI evaluations.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Dog Diseases / diagnosis
  • Dog Diseases / pathology
  • Dog Diseases / radiotherapy*
  • Dog Diseases / surgery*
  • Dogs
  • Ependymoma / diagnosis
  • Ependymoma / radiotherapy
  • Ependymoma / surgery
  • Ependymoma / veterinary*
  • Lumbar Vertebrae
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / veterinary
  • Male
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / veterinary
  • Spinal Cord Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Spinal Cord Neoplasms / radiotherapy
  • Spinal Cord Neoplasms / surgery
  • Spinal Cord Neoplasms / veterinary*
  • Treatment Outcome