A retrospective study of twenty-nine spinal tumours in the dog and cat

In a retrospective study of twenty-nine spinal tumours in dogs and cats approximately equal numbers of extradural and intradural tumours were found. The most prominent tumour type was the group of primary tumours of bone which included osteosarcomas, fibrosarcomas, hemangiosarcomas and multiple cartilagenous exostoses. Primary sarcomas of the spinal cord were the next most prominent type of tumour identified. A close clinicopathological correlation was found for tumour localization; however, intradural and extradural tumours could not be differentiated clinically. In comparison with extramedullary tumours which were evenly divided between acute and insidious onset, the majority of animals with intramedullary tumours had acute onset of neurological signs. In general, the intramedullary tumours had the shortest duration of clinical signs (1.7 weeks) whereas the extradural tumours had a mean duration of 3.4 weeks and intradural-extramedullary tumours had the longest mean duration (5.7 weeks). Contrast radiography was the most useful diagnostic aid. It confirmed the regional localization in twenty-two of twenty-four animals