Lumbar spinal cord ganglioglioma in a 2-year-old Boxer dog.

Ganglioglioma is a rare intramedullary spinal neoplasm in dogs requiring histopathology for diagnosis.

This case report describes a ganglioglioma, a rare intramedullary spinal cord neoplasm, in a 2-year-old Boxer dog presenting with a 2-week history of progressive, painful right-lateralized paraparesis. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a focal ovoid mass at the L3 vertebral level, with initial differential diagnoses including nephroblastoma. Surgical excision was attempted but proved technically challenging due to indistinct tumor borders. The patient deteriorated significantly postoperatively and was euthanized 3 days post-surgery due to suspected myelomalacia. Histopathological examination and immunohistochemical analysis confirmed the diagnosis of ganglioglioma, characterized by poorly organized proliferation of both neuronal and glial cell components within edematous neuropil, with positive immunostaining for neuronal and astrocytic markers. This case highlights the diagnostic and surgical challenges associated with intramedullary spinal cord tumors in dogs and emphasizes the importance of definitive histopathological diagnosis. Gangliogliomas remain exceptionally rare in canine medicine, making this a valuable contribution to veterinary oncology and neurology literature.

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