de Nies Kiona Sharon, Edwards Ralph Alexander, Bergknut Niklas, Beukers Martijn, Meij Björn Petrus
Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 108, 3584 CM, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Department Neurology, North Downs Specialist Referrals, Bletchingley, UK.
Acta Vet Scand. 2018 Mar 1;60(1):14. doi: 10.1186/s13028-018-0368-6.
Spinal cysts are rare findings in veterinary medicine, but they are increasingly recognized due to the availability of advanced imaging techniques. Extradural meningeal cysts in French Bulldogs have not been reported previously and arachnoid cysts (diverticula) have not been reported at the caudal lumbar (L6-L7) region in dogs.
Two French Bulldogs, aged 5 and 8 years, were referred for evaluation of lower back pain and bilateral hind limb neurological deficits. Neurologic examination revealed ataxia and postural deficits in both dogs. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed cauda equina compression due to a cyst-like lesion at the level of L6-L7 in both cases. The dogs underwent dorsal laminectomy and the meningeal cyst was completely removed in one dog and in the other dog the spinal arachnoid diverticula was marsupialized. In Case 1, histopathology of the cysts was performed and MRI was repeated. Both dogs were pain free during follow-up evaluations.
Based on radiological, intra-operative and histopathological findings, the first case was diagnosed as a meningocele connected by a pedicle to the caudal tip of the dural sac forming a dural diverticulum categorized as an extradural spinal cyst type Ib, and Case 2 as a type III intradural arachnoid diverticula. It is concluded that spinal cysts should be included in the differential diagnosis of cauda equina syndrome and lower back pain in French Bulldogs. Results of these cases may be useful for diagnostic and treatment management.
脊髓囊肿在兽医学中是罕见的发现，但由于先进成像技术的应用，它们越来越多地被识别出来。此前尚未有法国斗牛犬硬脊膜外脑膜囊肿的报道，犬类尾腰椎（L6-L7）区域的蛛网膜囊肿（憩室）也未见报道。
两只年龄分别为5岁和8岁的法国斗牛犬因下背部疼痛和双侧后肢神经功能缺损前来接受评估。神经学检查发现两只犬均存在共济失调和姿势缺陷。磁共振成像（MRI）显示，两例均在L6-L7水平出现囊肿样病变导致马尾神经受压。两只犬均接受了背侧椎板切除术，其中一只犬的脑膜囊肿被完全切除，另一只犬的脊髓蛛网膜憩室进行了袋形缝合术。在病例1中，对囊肿进行了组织病理学检查并再次进行了MRI检查。在随访评估期间，两只犬均无疼痛。
根据放射学、术中及组织病理学检查结果，第一例被诊断为通过蒂与硬脊膜囊尾端相连的脊膜膨出，形成一个硬脊膜憩室，归类为硬脊膜外脊髓囊肿Ib型，病例2为III型硬脊膜内蛛网膜憩室。得出结论，脊髓囊肿应纳入法国斗牛犬马尾神经综合征和下背部疼痛的鉴别诊断中。这些病例的结果可能对诊断和治疗管理有用。
