A feline spinal dermoid cyst treated with surgical intervention

A 5-year-old neutered female mixed cat presented with reduced activity and ataxia of the hind limbs. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed an extradural mass compressing the spinal cord on the dorsal aspects from the 7th to 8th thoracic vertebra. Dorsal laminectomy was performed on the 7-8th thoracic vertebra and the cyst was totally removed, giving full resolution of the clinical signs. The cyst was diagnosed as a dermoid cyst. To our knowledge, this is the first report of feline dermoid cyst compressing the spinal cord that was diagnosed antemortem. The prognosis is favorable when the cyst is completely resected.

Decreased serum zinc concentration in dogs with lymphocytic-plasmacytic enteritis, and its associations with disease severity and prognosis

Human patients with inflammatory bowel disease may have poor prognosis with hypozincemia. However, there are limited data on zinc concentrations in the blood of dogs with lymphocytic-plasmacytic enteritis (LPE). The purpose of this study was to investigate the serum zinc concentration in dogs with LPE and its influence on disease severity and prognosis. Thirty-five dogs with LPE were recruited. Serum zinc concentration was measured using atomic absorption spectrometry. Hypozincemia was observed in 18/35 (51%) dogs with LPE. Serum zinc concentration was inversely correlated with histological and clinical severities. Overall survivals were significantly shorter in dogs with hypozincemia than in those without it. These findings suggest that serum zinc concentration is a useful biomarker for LPE severity and prognosis in dogs.