First Cervical Intramedullary Hemangioblastoma in a Dog: Imaging, Surgery, and Pathology Insights

Intramedullary Hemangioblastoma in the Cervical Spinal Cord of a Dog

Kiyotaka Arai; Haruto Kushige; Osamu Sakai; Ryohei Yoshitake; Kenji Kutara; Keisuke Sugimoto; Natsuki Akashi; Shinichi Nakamura; Akihiko Sugiyama

Background

Hemangioblastomas are rare, benign vascular tumors of the canine central nervous system, typically reported as solitary lesions in the cerebrum, brainstem, or thoracic and lumbar spinal cord. Prior to this report, hemangioblastomas had not been described within the parenchyma of the cervical spinal cord in dogs. The authors aimed to document the clinical presentation, magnetic resonance imaging features, surgical management, and histopathological characteristics of a cervical intramedullary hemangioblastoma in a dog.

Methods

A 9-year-old neutered male French bulldog with progressive tetraparesis underwent neurological examination, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and cervical spinal cord. MRI included T1- and T2-weighted sequences, contrast-enhanced T1-weighted imaging, and MR myelography. Surgical treatment consisted of dorsal laminectomy at C5–6 followed by dorsal midline myelotomy and gross total tumor resection. Histopathological examination with hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemistry for Factor VIII–related antigen, neuron-specific enolase, and neurofilaments was performed.

Results

MRI revealed a 0.9 cm intramedullary mass at the level of C6, characterized by T2-weighted hyperintensity, isointensity on T1-weighted images, and strong homogeneous contrast enhancement. The mass was not visible on the spinal cord surface but was identified after dorsal midline myelotomy as a dark red, highly vascular lesion. Gross total resection was achieved. Histopathology demonstrated abundant capillary structures and numerous stromal cells. Capillary endothelial cells labeled positively for Factor VIII–related antigen, while stromal cells labeled for neuron-specific enolase but not for neurofilaments. Neurofilament-positive axons and neuron-like cells were observed entrapped within the tumor. Postoperatively, neurological function deteriorated, and the dog died suddenly 58 hours after surgery.

Limitations

This report describes a single clinical case, limiting generalizability. The cause of postoperative death was not determined, and no postmortem examination findings were reported. Prognosis, complication rates, and optimal surgical approaches for cervical intramedullary hemangioblastomas in dogs remain uncertain due to the scarcity of cases.

Conclusions

This case represents the first documented intramedullary hemangioblastoma of the cervical spinal cord in a dog. The report demonstrates that such tumors can occur in the cervical spinal cord parenchyma, show characteristic MRI and histopathological features, and can be surgically resected via dorsal laminectomy and dorsal midline myelotomy. The findings expand the anatomical spectrum of canine hemangioblastomas and highlight the need for additional reports to better define surgical risks, postoperative outcomes, and prognosis.

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