Case report links ANNPE and vertebral T-cell lymphoma in a dog

Version 1 — Brief

A new case report in the Journal of Small Animal Practice describes an 8-year-old poodle-cross dog with peracute paraparesis that initially fit the pattern of acute non-compressive nucleus pulposus extrusion, or ANNPE, but MRI also identified a subtle lesion in the T13 vertebral body that was later confirmed on biopsy as T-cell lymphoma. The dog’s imaging showed the classic intramedullary changes and reduced disc volume consistent with ANNPE, alongside contrast-enhancing vertebral changes that might have been missed without STIR and post-contrast T1-weighted sequences. The dog was treated with palliative radiation to the vertebral lesion and recovered ambulatory function within weeks, with neurologic signs attributed mainly to the ANNPE rather than direct spinal cord compression from the tumor. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the report is a reminder that a seemingly straightforward ANNPE presentation doesn’t rule out concurrent vertebral disease. Vertebral lymphoma is uncommon, but prior reports show it can present with paresis, pain, or imaging changes that overlap with other spinal disorders, making contrast-enhanced MRI and careful review of the vertebral column especially important when imaging findings don’t fully match the clinical picture. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

What to watch: Whether this report changes how neurologists and radiologists approach MRI protocols and differential lists in dogs with abrupt, non-painful thoracolumbar myelopathy. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)