Diagnosis and surgical management of an extraskeletal osteosarcoma of the brachial plexus in a Belgian shepherd dog

J Small Anim Pract. 2024 Oct;65(10):776-779. doi: 10.1111/jsap.13757. Epub 2024 Jul 4.

Abstract

An 11-year-old Belgian shepherd presented with progressive right thoracic limb lameness. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a brachial plexus neoplasm and cytology was suggestive of a sarcoma. The patient underwent forequarter amputation and hemilaminectomy of the fifth cervical to first thoracic vertebrae with nerve root transection. Histopathology confirmed extraskeletal osteosarcoma. Twelve months post-operatively, the dog was exercising normally, and computed tomography did not identify local recurrence or metastatic disease. This is the first recorded case of canine brachial plexus extraskeletal osteosarcoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Amputation, Surgical / veterinary
  • Animals
  • Brachial Plexus* / surgery
  • Dog Diseases* / diagnosis
  • Dog Diseases* / surgery
  • Dogs
  • Female
  • Lameness, Animal / etiology
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / veterinary
  • Male
  • Osteosarcoma* / diagnosis
  • Osteosarcoma* / surgery
  • Osteosarcoma* / veterinary
  • Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms / surgery
  • Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms / veterinary
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / veterinary