Tsoumanis V. DVM, Postgraduate student, Companion Animal Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece | Stylianaki I. DVM, PhD, Associate Professor, Laboratory of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece | Pandelidou M. DVM, Postgraduate student, Companion Animal Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece | Sarpekidou E. DVM, PhD Candidate, Companion Animal Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece | Chaitidis E. DVM, Postgraduate student, Laboratory of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece | Patsikas M. DVM, PhD, Dip ECVI, Professor of Diagnostic Imaging, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece | Kazakos G. DVM, PhD, Professor, Companion Animal Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Thessaloniki, Greece | Komnenou A. DVM, PhD, Professor, Companion Animal Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Thessaloniki, Greece
Introduction
Nephroblastoma is a primary renal tumor reported in pigs, chickens, fish, dogs and humans ("Wilms’ tumor"). In dogs, it has been also reported in the thoracolumbar region of the spinal cord. In this paper a rare case of a spinal cord nephroblastoma in a pet rabbit is presented.
Clinical case
A 3-year-old, female, neutered pet rabbit experienced a sudden hind limb mobility loss. The detailed clinical/neurological examination of the animal revealed clinical signs of hind limbs paralysis, indicating thoracolumbar syndrome of severity 5 (scale 0-5). On hematological, biochemical, radiological examination, no abnormalities were detected. Computed tomography did not show any intraspinal anomaly, but a soft tissue attenuation mass at the lateral aspect of T6 to T8 vertebrae. Medical treatment with NSAID’s and cage rest for 15 was proved ineffective, leading to euthanasia and necropsy.
Results
Postmortem examination, revealed an intradural extramedullary tumor affecting the spinal cord (T6–T8) and involving the thoracic wall. Cytology of the tumor showed a malignant epithelial neoplasm with histiocytic inflammation, while histopathology identified the tumor as nephroblastoma.
Conclusions
Nephroblastoma is a rarely reported in rabbits tumor, typically being experimentally induced, with no prior mention of primary spinal cord location. Spinal cord neoplasms, including nephroblastoma, although rare in the rabbit, should be included in the differential diagnosis of hind limb paresis/paralysis.
