Long-term treatment of a canine intramedullary spinal cord hamartoma

Honorable Mention, Cases and Abstracts
Keiko Petrosky and Dominik Faissler, Tufts University

From the Department of Clinical Sciences, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, 200 Westboro Rd, North Grafton, MA, 01536

A nine month old castrated male Irish Setter presented for evaluation of intermittent paraparesis and hind end ataxia. A MRI showed a large inhomogeneous intramedullary T2*-W voiding lesion over T2-3 with an associated cystic component at T4. A Dorsal laminectomy and longitudinal myelotomy was performed at T2-4. A large, dark intramedullary mass was removed.  Histological analysis showed hemorrhage and a non-encapsulated, disorganized proliferation of vascular walls intermixed with fibrous tissue effacing the normal spinal cord architecture.  The diagnosis of a hamartoma was further supported by positive immunostaining with anti-factor VIII and anti-actin antibodies. Two months post-surgery the dog was ambulatory with mild hypermetric ataxia.  Eleven months after the myelotomy the patient presented for repeat imaging after the owner reported increased paraparesis and ataxia. At the mid-body of T3, the intramedullary lesion was noted more prominently than previously with an increased diameter of the T2*-W voiding lesion. The dog underwent definitive radiation therapy (3Gy/fraction, 15 treatments, total dose of 45 Gy). Additional recheck MRI studies at 16 and 25 months post-surgery showed an unchanged situation.  The patient continued to be neurologically stable, with mild paraparesis, ataxia and moderately clonic patellar reflex in the left hind leg.

SAVMA Travel Grant Winner

Shannon McCook, Tufts University

This is a scholarship awarded by SAVMA's Education and Professional Development Committee.  If you are interested in applying for this scholarship, check out the details here

The 2012 SAVMA Travel Grant really helped to ease the financial burden of my trip to the Comparative Ocular Pathology Laboratory of Wisconsin in August of 2012.  I have always planned to become a pathologist.  Having developed a keen interest in ophthalmology during my third year vet school course work, this externship experience was a natural fit for me.  August was a fantastic time to be in Madison - the weather was perfect and the people were warm and welcoming.  I stayed with the director of the COPLOW, Dr. Dick Dubielzig, and his wife, Doris.  During my stay at the COPLOW, I participated in daily resident histopathology training rounds and attended afternoon necropsy rounds.  I participated in mock exam sessions for the American College of Veterinary Pathology Board examination, which were incredibly helpful in planning for my future as a pathology resident.  I had the opportunity to view ocular histology sections from many different species of animals from invertebrates to primates, including a jumping spider, May fly, Cock-eyed squid, wasp, ostrich, western lowland gorilla, hippopotamus, Russian tortoise and a white rhinoceros.  To round out my comparative ocular pathology experience, I was able to attend weekly Ophthalmology rounds at the UW Medical School and sit in while they read out human biopsy cases.  All in all, it was a truly fantastic experience.  Many thanks to SAVMA for making it possible!

Primate Research Center Externship

Entry, Experiences
Keiko Petrosky, Tufts 

During my externship at the New England Primate Research Center Division of Comparative Pathology and Primate Resources at the Harvard University, I had the opportunity to work with Dr. Andrew Miller, a veterinary pathologist who is an expert in experimental and diagnostic pathology. Along with four Kyoko Okabe (Osaka City University) and Keiko Petrosky (Tufts University), both STP Travel Award winners.summer students in the department, I attended gross and histology rounds, observed a necropsy, and interacted with residents and scientists. Dr. Miller also lead us through mystery slide readings, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology slide readings, and slide examination of classic lesions in the non-human primate.

 

The highlight of my summer was working with Dr. Miller directly on a project to describe more thoroughly lesions found in the brains of SIV-infected rhesus macaques. For this project, I worked closely with a histologist to learn immunohistochemistry and to perform this task independently. I was also able to attend the Society of Toxicologic Pathology Annual Symposium that was held in Boston with Dr. Miller and the veterinary pathology residents at Harvard, where I interacted with students from all over the world!

Fun activities included an ice cream social and a pool party with Gregory Miller’s lab (no relation). The NEPRC is located in an idyllic forest, worlds away from the nearby residential and industrial areas of the city of Southborough. I saw a white-tailed deer en route to the NEPRC, and Dr. Miller illustrated bracken fern toxicity during rounds by going outside and harvesting a frond! Dr. Miller and his team make pathology entertaining and after my experience, I would highly recommend that anyone curious about veterinary pathology, non-human primates, or research in general spend some time at the NEPRC.

American College of Veterinary Pathologists’ Annual Meeting

Entry, Experiences
Keiko Petrosky, Tufts 

 

The Tufts Veterinary Pathology Club sent four students from the graduating class of 2013, all members of the Pathology Club Executive Board, to Nashville, TN to participate in the 2011 American College of Veterinary Pathologists’ Annual Meeting. Drs. Rachel Peters and Jerry Lyons, veterinary pathologists at Above – from left to right – Tufts veterinary students Shannon McCook, Falon Gray, Keriann Casey and Keiko Petrosky explore Nashville at the ACVP meeting.Tufts, also attended. Keriann Casey attended the C.L. Davis Pre-meeting workshop on “Navigating The Vast Pink Wasteland of Neuropathology” on Saturday, December 3rd. Keriann Casey and Keiko Petrosky displayed posters at the meeting and all four of us attended the Student Poster Session on Saturday night.  On Sunday, we had a great time meeting students and faculty from other schools at the Veterinary Student Breakfast.  We attended several lectures Sunday morning, including the Mini-Symposium: Background and Spontaneous Lesions in Non-Human Primate Species Used for Drug Safety Studies and the Diagnostic Pathology Focused Scientific Session I.  During the afternoon, a few of us attended the Natural Disease Focused Scientific Session II.  Sunday night, we attended the Mystery Slide Review and Neuropathology Case Presentations.  

 

Monday morning, we attended the ACVP and ASVCP Joint Plenary Session: Vascular Function and Malfunction.  During the lunch hour, we attended the ACVP Gross and Microscopic Examination Slide Review.  During the afternoon, we attended the Meet the Pathologists: A Discussion of Careers in Pathology event and then headed over to the Veterinary Student – Resident Forum.  Monday night, we marveled at the Mystery Slide Review: Ocular Pathology session.  Three of us traveled back to Boston to catch up with classes and final exams on Tuesday morning, while one student was able to attend talks on Tuesday.

 

Among our favorite events of the meeting were the Mystery Slide Sessions on Sunday and Monday nights and the Veterinary Student – Resident Forum on Monday afternoon. One of our favorite cases from the Neuropathology Slide Session was the Bullnose Ray from the Shedd Aquarium, in which type II astrocytes clued the Human Neuropathologist, Dr. Hannes Vogel, into a problem with ammonia and water quality.  It’s always fun to be stumped by interesting cases, and the Forum was particularly useful, as many of us will be applying to residency next year.  We all felt so lucky to have the chance to speak to current residents and program directors as hopeful future veterinary pathology residents. Every one of us left the meeting reassured of our love for pathology and excited for our future careers!

SAVMA Public Health/Community Outreach Grant Summary

Editor's note: The following is a trip summary from a veterinary student that received a grant from SAVMA's Public Health and Community Outreach Committee to participate in an externship in an underserved area.  If you are interested in receiving funding for your own externship, please contact the committee at savma.phcoc@gmail.com.  Applications must be received 45 days prior to the externship experience.

Lori Newman
Tufts V’13

I recently returned from a Rural Area Veterinary Services (RAVS) trip to San Carlos and White Mountain Apache Reservations in Arizona.  I participated in a field clinic providing vaccination and spay/neuter services for dogs and cats living on those reservations.  

RAVS was incredibly valuable for me. I gained experience in several technical domains, including placing intravenous catheters, performing intubation, administering injections, performing physical exams, and running anesthesia cases for surgery. I saw cases that I am unlikely to encounter at Tufts, such as puppies suffering from parvovirus and animals covered in ticks or sarcoptic mange. I learned that tick-borne diseases such as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever pose a health risk to not only dogs but also people on the reservation. Several children have already died of this disease, and the tribe is working closely with the Centers for Disease Control to fight it.

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