Meningioma in cervical spinal cord segment 6 of a dog – a case report

Meningiomas in dogs occur more commonly in the brain than in the cranial spinal cord. Intramedullary spinal cord tumours in dogs are described infrequently and present a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. A nine-year-old Beagle dog was referred because of tetraparesis of a 20-day duration. The neurological signs were suggestive of a selective lesion involving the cervical spinal cord. Sagittal T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical vertebral column revealed a ventral, well-circumscribed mass within the vertebral canal at the level of cervical segment 6 (C6). A primary neoplasia was considered as probable differential diagnosis. The mass was removed by cervical laminectomy, durotomy and gentle dissections. On the basis of histological and immunohistochemical findings, a diagnosis of transitional meningioma (grade I) was made. Treatment of the meningioma with surgery resulted in a complete recovery, the dog was able to walk 21 days after surgery and had normal walk two months after presentation. Clinicopathologic and treatment data of cranial intraspinal meningiomas have been reported sporadically, but a segment 6 location was not thoroughly described before.

Download Full-text

Surgical Removal of an Intramedullary Spinal Cord Foreign Body Granuloma in a Dog

Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association ◽

10.5326/0390306 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 39 (3) ◽

pp. 306-310 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Alenka Leskovar ◽

Joan R. Coates ◽

Karen E. Russell ◽

Michael A. Walker ◽

Ralph W. Storts

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Foreign Body ◽

Cervical Spinal Cord ◽

Outer Wall ◽

Foreign Body Granuloma ◽

Surgical Removal ◽

Intramedullary Spinal Cord ◽

Dorsal Midline ◽

Intramedullary Lesion ◽

Spinal Cord Segment

A 2-year-old, spayed female, mixed-breed dog was presented for evaluation of a progressive asymmetric tetraparesis and cranial nerve deficits with a 3-week duration. Computed tomography showed a contrast-enhancing lesion along the left side of the junction of the medulla and the cervical spinal cord. An exploratory surgery determined the presence of an intramedullary lesion of the first cervical spinal cord segment. The mass was removed through a dorsal midline myelotomy. Microscopic examination identified a foreign body granuloma that contained a dense, anisotropic outer wall, supporting the conclusion that the foreign body was of plant origin. The dog recovered to a more improved ambulatory status than prior to surgery.

Download Full-text

Spinal cord representation of motor cortex plasticity reflects corticospinal tract LTP

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ◽

10.1073/pnas.2113192118 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 118 (52) ◽

pp. e2113192118

Author(s):

Alzahraa Amer ◽

Jianxun Xia ◽

Michael Smith ◽

John H. Martin

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Motor Cortex ◽

Corticospinal Tract ◽

Cervical Spinal Cord ◽

Long Term Potentiation ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Term Potentiation ◽

Spinal Cord Segment ◽

Spinal Interneuron ◽

Activity Dependent

Although it is well known that activity-dependent motor cortex (MCX) plasticity produces long-term potentiation (LTP) of local cortical circuits, leading to enhanced muscle function, the effects on the corticospinal projection to spinal neurons has not yet been thoroughly studied. Here, we investigate a spinal locus for corticospinal tract (CST) plasticity in anesthetized rats using multichannel recording of motor-evoked, intraspinal local field potentials (LFPs) at the sixth cervical spinal cord segment. We produced LTP by intermittent theta burst electrical stimulation (iTBS) of the wrist area of MCX. Approximately 3 min of MCX iTBS potentiated the monosynaptic excitatory LFP recorded within the CST termination field in the dorsal horn and intermediate zone for at least 15 min after stimulation. Ventrolaterally, in the spinal cord gray matter, which is outside the CST termination field in rats, iTBS potentiated an oligosynaptic negative LFP that was localized to the wrist muscle motor pool. Spinal LTP remained robust, despite pharmacological blockade of iTBS-induced LTP within MCX using MK801, showing that activity-dependent spinal plasticity can be induced without concurrent MCX LTP. Pyramidal tract iTBS, which preferentially activates the CST, also produced significant spinal LTP, indicating the capacity for plasticity at the CST–spinal interneuron synapse. Our findings show CST monosynaptic LTP in spinal interneurons and demonstrate that spinal premotor circuits are capable of further modifying descending MCX control signals in an activity-dependent manner.

Download Full-text

Microsurgical Resection of an Intramedullary Spinal Cord Hemangioblastoma Through an Anterior Cervical Approach: 2-Dimensional Operative Video

Operative Neurosurgery ◽

10.1093/ons/opaa314 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Kyle Lindsey McCormick ◽

Nikita Alexiades ◽

Paul C McCormick

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Tumor Resection ◽

Residual Tumor ◽

Complete Recovery ◽

Surgical Removal ◽

Intramedullary Spinal Cord ◽

Dural Closure ◽

Cervical Approach ◽

Anterior Cervical Approach ◽

Microsurgical Resection

Abstract This video demonstrates the microsurgical removal of an intramedullary spinal cord hemangioblastoma through an anterior cervical approach. While most spinal hemangioblastomas arise from the dorsal or dorsolateral pial surface and can be safely resected through a posterior approach,1,2 ventral tumors can present a significant challenge to safe surgical removal.3-5 This patient presented with a progressively symptomatic ventral pial based hemangioblastoma at the C5-6 level with large polar cysts extending from C3 to T1. The tumor was approached through a standard anterior cervical exposure with a C5 and C6 corpectomy. Following midline durotomy, the tumor was identified and complete microsurgical resection was achieved. The principles and techniques of tumor resection are illustrated and described in the video. Following tumor resection and dural closure, a fibular allograft was inserted into the corpectomy defect and a C4-C7 fixation plate was placed. The patient was maintained in a supine position for 36 h. He was discharged home on postoperative day 3 in a cervical collar. The patient did well with near-complete recovery of neurological function. Postoperative magnetic resonance imaging at 6 wk showed a substantial resolution of the polar cysts and no evidence of residual tumor. The patient featured in this video consented to the procedure.

Download Full-text

P05.04 Intramedullary spinal cord tumours - a single centre ten year analysis

Neuro-Oncology ◽

10.1093/neuonc/noy139.330 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 20 (suppl_3) ◽

pp. iii302-iii303

Author(s):

O Richards ◽

E Goacher ◽

C Derham

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Single Centre ◽

Intramedullary Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Tumours

Download Full-text

TM1-6 Intramedullary spinal cord tumours – a single centre 10 year retrospective review

Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry ◽

10.1136/jnnp-2019-abn.30 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 90 (3) ◽

pp. e10.1-e10

Author(s):

O Richards ◽

E Goacher ◽

C Derham

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Significant Relationship ◽

Retrospective Review ◽

Progression Free Survival ◽

Extent Of Resection ◽

Tumour Resection ◽

Anatomical Location ◽

Intramedullary Spinal Cord ◽

Free Survival ◽

Spinal Cord Tumours

ObjectivesTo identify clinically relevant predictors of progression free survival by retrospectively analysing the anatomical location, pre- and post-operative function and histology in intramedullary spinal cord tumours from a single neurosurgical centre over 10 years.DesignRetrospective review.Methods49 patients were identified from a surgical database. Variables collected included pre-and post-operative Frankel Grade and Modified McCormick Scale assessments, tumour histology, extent of resection and length of follow up. Chi-Squared, Kaplan-Mier Survival and Mann-Whitney U-Tests were completed.ResultsThere was a statistically significant relationship between identification of the tumour plane and extent of resection (p<0.01), along with the extent of resection and recurrence (p<0.01). Compared to the other histological subtypes, ependymoma’s demonstrated a significantly greater extent of resection (p=0.02). There was a significant relationship between the grade of tumour and progression free survival (p<0.01). We did not find a significant relationship between pre- and post-operative neurological function and survival.ConclusionsTumour plane and the extent of tumour resection are significant determinants of progression free survival. Ependymoma, whilst being the commonest histology in our series were also the most resectable. Whilst complete resection reduces the rate of recurrence, tumour grade is the most important predictor of outcome.

Download Full-text

A feather cyst causing vertebral bone lysis and spinal cord compression in a Lohmann Brown layer

Journal of the South African Veterinary Association ◽

10.4102/jsava.v91i0.1758 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 91 ◽

Author(s):

Alaster Samkange ◽

Borden Mushonga ◽

Erick Kandiwa ◽

Alec S. Bishi ◽

Basiamisi V.E. Segwagwe ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Cervical Spinal Cord ◽

Cervical Vertebra ◽

Cord Compression ◽

Cervical Region ◽

Subsequent Growth ◽

Spinal Cord Segment ◽

Normal Diameter ◽

Bone Lysis ◽

Exerted Pressure

A feather cyst in the cervical region which, through complications of inward growth, resulted in compression of the cervical spinal cord of a Lohmann Brown layer is described. It is postulated that expansion of the cyst exerted pressure on the adjacent cervical vertebra and through bone lysis created an opening through which the cyst protruded, thereby exerting pressure on the spinal cord. The affected spinal cord segment was reduced to a fifth of its normal diameter. The bird most likely died of starvation because of limb and neck paralysis and disorientation. Although the cause of the feather cyst was not conclusively identified, moulting and trauma could have triggered its formation and subsequent growth.

Download Full-text