Extradural spinal lipoma in a dog

A 7-year-old, female pointer dog was referred to the SNU Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital for the evaluation of lameness in the pelvic limb of 10 days' duration. After the treatment for 2 weeks (carprofen 2.2 mg/kg, bid), the progressive, symmetric, ambulatory caudal paraparesis was profound. In the spinal myelography, left lateral extradural compression of the spinal cord over the ninth and tenth thoracic vertebral bodies was found. A left hemilaminectomy of the ninth and tenth thoracic vertebrae was done. A 1.5-cm-long, white extradural mass occupied the left side of the spinal canal. The tumor was identified histologically as lipoma. The 6 weeks after surgery the dog's complaints were much improved. Continuous evaluation is needed.