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Computed tomographic findings in a suspected disseminated primitive neuroectodermal tumour in a young dog
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Computed tomographic findings in a suspected disseminated primitive neuroectodermal tumour in a young dog

M. Frances, N.V. Lester, Z.M. Lenard and P.K. Nicholls
Australian Veterinary Practitioner, Vol.43(4), pp.521-526
2013
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Abstract

A two and a half-year-old American Staffordshire bull terrier was presented with seizures, unilateral blindness consistent with a lesion at the level of the optic nerve and bilateral hindleg ataxia progressing to paresis. Computed tomography <CT) of the brain and spine identified a mineralised suprasellar mass which extended along both optic nerves. The dog recovered uneventfully from anaesthesia but died within 24 hours. Necropsy and histopathology confirmed the CT findings, identifying neoplastic invasion of the cerebrum and brainstem with extensive meningeal dissemination involving the entire spinal cord. Histologic features and immunohistochemical staining were most consistent with a primitive neuroectodermal tumour, although some typical features, such as cellular pseudo rosettes, were not found. The difficulty in forming a definitive conclusion in this case is consistent with previous reports of other juvenile central nervous system tumours in which the presence of multiple cell types within the mass and conflicting immunohistochemical characteristics are confounding factors. This case highlights the clinical utility of computed tomography in characterising intracranial mass lesions in young dogs presenting with seizures and multifocal central neurologic abnormalities. Neoplasia resulting in these clinical and imaging findings in young dogs is commonly aggressive in nature and should be included as a differential diagnosis.

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