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Periódicos Brasileiros em Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia

Extradural synovial cyst of the cervical spine in a Saint Bernard

Ferrarin, Dênis AntonioPolidoro Neto, Dakir NiltonSchwab, Marcelo LuísRipplinger, AngelWrzesinski, Mathias ReginattoRauber, Júlia da SilvaSilva, Marcia Cristina daMazzanti, Alexandre

Background: Extradural synovial cysts (ESC) originate from an extrusion of the synovium in unstable or degeneratedjoints. In the spine, this condition can cause neurological signs such as hyperesthesia, proprioceptive ataxia and paresis.Since extradural presentations of synovial cysts are unusual in dogs, the aim of this manuscript is to report a case ofextradural synovial cyst of the cervical spine, as well as the clinical findings, diagnosis, surgical treatment and clinicalevolution after therapy.Case: A 3-year-old spayed Saint Bernard weighing 60 kg was presented to a Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital with ahistory of acute paraparesis that evolved to non-ambulatory tetraparesis five days after the appearance of the first clinicalsigns. Neurological examination revealed non-ambulatory tetraparesis, normal muscle tone and segmental spinal reflexesin the thoracic and pelvic limbs, as well as cervical pain associated with limited neck movement. According to the neurological examination, the likely lesion location was the C1-C5 spinal cord segment. The differential diagnosis list includedintervertebral disc disease, caudal cervical spondylomyelopathy, neoplasm, infectious or noninfectious inflammatorydisease, and cystic diseases. Complete blood (cell) count and serum biochemistry tests were within reference limits. Thecerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed 35 mg/dL of protein (< 30 mg/dL) and 27 cells (up to 5 cells/mm3) with a predominance of lymphocytes. In plain radiography, bone proliferations of the C4 (caudal) C5 (cranial) articular processes wereobserved and, in myelography, extradural spinal cord compression was evident between C4-C5 on the right side. The animal underwent dorsal laminectomy for spinal cord decompression. An extradural synovial cyst and proliferated articularprocesses were removed. At 1,281 days after surgery, the dog was clinically normal and presented no neurological deficits...(AU)

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