Today’s case is an 8-year-old male neutered Beagle mix with progressive paraparesis progressing to inability to walk over 4 months. Can you find the lesion?
Findings
On referral radiographs of the spine, there is marked widening of one side of the intervertebral foramen at L1-L2. This is best seen on the lateral projections. The margins of the foramen are smooth and sclerotic with no evidence of lysis.
Differential Diagnosis
The widening of the intervertebral foramen is characteristic of a slowly progressive peripheral nerve sheath tumor.
Diagnosis
Peripheral nerve sheath tumor (Schwannoma)
MRI confirmed the peripheral nerve sheath tumor at L1-L2. The mass was incompletely excised with a hemilaminectomy. The dog recovered neurologic function rapidly after surgery.
Contrast enhanced T1 fat saturated images of the spine.