Imaging diagnosis - Magnetic resonance imaging findings of a lumbosacral synovial cyst in a German shepherd dog

摘要

A 10-year-old female German shepherd dog, with a history of severe, bilateral hip dysplasia was evaluated for abnormalities in hindleg gait and right hindleg weakness of one week duration. Neurologic examination revealed reduced proprioception, hyperreflexic patellar reflexes in both hindlegs but hyporeflexic sciatic reflexes. Palpation over the lumbosacral spine caused the dog to collapse. The dog was treated with a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug and vitamin B complex for a week. The dog re-presented one week later with progressive weakness. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study showed a spinal cyst communicating with the right lumbosacral (L7-S1) apophyseal joint. Histologic examination of tissue resected at surgery was consistent with a synovial cyst with cartilaginous metaplasia. The MRI study allowed a diagnosis of this uncommon condition contributing to nerve root compression in a dog.