Computed Tomography evaluation of peripheral nerve sheath tumor in an American Staffordshire Terrier – Case study

Abstract

A 1 year old intact American Staffordshire Terrier male was brought to consultation being suspicioned by cervical compression. The neurological examination show proprioception deficiency of the front and hind legs and a diminution of the superficial proprioception was noted. Base on the neurological evaluation the lesion was located in the cervico-toracal area of the spine. A native CT was performed to identify the changes of the spine. The CT reveal a craniodorsal left paravertebral soft tissue mass associated with the segmental nerves of the brachial plexus and with extension into the vertebral canal through the left intervertebral foramen T2/3. A fine needle aspiration was performed from a formation localized intrathoracic in the close proximity of the nerve sheath tumor and the examination showed cell characteristically for a mesenchymal malignant process.