Vertebral Angiomatosis in a Persian cat
No Access Until
Permanent Link(s)
Collections
Other Titles
Author(s)
Abstract
This report describes a case of a young Persian cat with vertebral angiomatosis. The patient initially presented for evaluation of lethargy, inappetance, and non-specific pain. On physical and neurologic examination, the only abnormality detected was severe thoracolumbar pain and hyperesthesia. Fmther workup included baseline bloodwork and imaging including MRI and CT. MRI revealed a contrast enhancing right sided lesion of the L1 ve1tebral body, pedicle, lamina, and spinous process, which appeared to be compressing the spinal cord laterally. The MRI findings were suggestive of ve,tebral angiomatosis and CT was performed to reduce diagnostic uncertainty. CT scan revealed a thickened pedicle at Ll as well as a less hypodense mass compressing the spinal cord. The appearance was consistent with the reported findings of vertebral angiomatosis. In order to relieve compression of the spinal cord, a dorsal right-sided hemilaminectomy was performed and samples of bone were submitted for analysis. Histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of vertebral angiomatosis characterized by welldifferentiated, proliferative, variably sized blood vessels within the vertebral bone that was expanding the intra-bone spaces. One month following surgery, the patient was reported to have no clinical sign and was pain-free on spinal palpation. Vertebral angiomatosis is a rare vascular malformation that has been reported in five other cats in the literature, all just under the age of 2 years old. The pathogenesis is not well understood but short-term prognosis with surgery is favorable. Due to the limited number of case reports and lack of follow-up, long-term prognosis is unknown.