Rare spinal hemangiosarcoma case highlights MRI-CT staging in a dog

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An April 2026 case report in Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound describes an 8-year-old neutered male Australian Shepherd with acute lumbosacral pain that was ultimately diagnosed with an extradural-extramedullary lumbar hemangiosarcoma, an exceptionally rare spinal presentation in dogs. MRI identified a well-demarcated mass spanning L6 to L7 and compressing the conus medullaris, cauda equina, and left sciatic nerve roots; surgical decompression confirmed hemangiosarcoma on histopathology. Follow-up thoracic and abdominal CT then revealed pulmonary, hepatic, and subcutaneous lesions consistent with metastatic disease. The authors say this is only the second reported extradural-extramedullary lumbar hemangiosarcoma in a dog, and the first report to include complete metastatic staging with CT. (lifescience.net)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the report is a reminder that hemangiosarcoma can appear in atypical spinal locations, even when initial signs center on pain and gait reluctance rather than collapse or hemoabdomen. It also highlights the value of pairing MRI for local lesion characterization with CT for staging, especially because pulmonary hemangiosarcoma metastases may show features such as small, well-defined nodules, a ground-glass halo, and feeding vessel signs that can help prioritize metastatic HSA on imaging. (lifescience.net)

What to watch: Whether this report changes how referral centers stage unusual spinal masses, particularly by prompting earlier whole-body CT in dogs with suspected vascular or sarcomatous lesions. (lifescience.net)