Abstract
A 2-year-old female crossbreed dog was presented with progressive ataxia and paraparesis. A T3-L3 spinal lesion was determined by neurological examination. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed an ovoid-shaped, well-circumscribed mass affecting the spinal cord at the level of the T9 vertebra. A left hemilaminectomy and a durotomy at the level of T9 allowed discovery of an ovoid deformation of the meninges with a cystic appearance.En bloc removal was performed and appeared to be complete. Pathological analysis showed a voluminous cystic lesion lined by a heterogeneous epithelium. Three types of epithelium were present: a pseudostratified columnar epithelium, a stratified squamous epithelium and a transitional epithelium. Mucus production, the morphology of some cells with microvilli at the apical pole and immunohistochemical assays were highly in favor of an endodermal origin of the cyst. The age of the dog, anamnesis, MRI study and histological findings were consistent with an intradural neurenteric cyst as described in humans. Total surgical removal led to a progressive clinical improvement with no recurrence at 18 months. We report an unusual intradural extramedullary cyst, called a neurenteric cyst, in a 2-year-old female crossbreed dog. This type of cyst is well-known in humans but has never been described in dogs. We propose that neurenteric cysts should be included in the differential diagnoses for tumor-like or cystic intradural lesions in the young dog. Prognosis for this type of cyst seems to be good, as total surgical removal led to a progressive clinical improvement with no recurrence at 18 months.
Highlights
Thoraco-lumbar intradural extra-axial myelopathies are uncommon in dogs, especially in young dogs
We describe an unusual intradural extramedullary cyst in a 2-year-old female crossbreed dog
Closure of the neural tube occurs at about 20 days, so that we can expect that the neurenteric cyst formation occurs at this period of development in dogs [10]
Summary
Thoraco-lumbar intradural extra-axial myelopathies are uncommon in dogs, especially in young dogs. A pseudostratified columnar epithelium with cylindrical cells with basal nuclei and round-shaped apical poles, evoking an enteral or respiratory epithelium, was observed (Fig. 5a). Structures such as cilia or microvilli were sometimes present at the apical pole (Fig. 6). Mucus production was established by histochemical assays utilizing periodic acid-Schiff (Fig. 7a and b) and alcian blue (Fig. 7c) This highlighted the secretory nature of the epithelium. The wall of the cyst showed antigens of cytokeratin This finding was consistent with the epithelial nature of the tissue. The cystic epithelial cells stained positively for carcinoembryonic antigen (Fig. 8) This finding was consistent with an endodermal origin of the cyst. The association of a cystic structure with heterogeneous epithelia of endodermal origin led to the diagnosis of a
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
