An Unusual Case Of Intervertebral Disc Extrusion In A Dog

A 6-year-old castrated male Dachshund-cross was presented with signs compatible with a thoracolumbar myelopathy. MRI findings were considered most consistent with neoplasia as a large, oval-shaped, well-defined extradural mass with atypical intensity presentation was found in the spinal canal with extension into the intervertebral foramen. Owners elected euthanasia and post-mortem histopathological examination resulted in a final diagnosis of compressive myelopathy due to extrusion of degenerated nucleus pulposus with haemorrhage and secondary encapsulation of the compressive material by fibroblasts. This case illustrates the variable appearance of intervertebral disc extrusion on MRI.