Metastatic kidney carcinoma causing paralysis of pelvic limbs in a dog

Abstract

A 12-year-old male Maltese dog was presented with a history of shivering episodes. Radiographs revealed a mass in the left kidney that was histopathologically classified as a renal cell carcinoma. After nephrectomy, pelvic limbs became paralyzed. Spinal cord and lung metastases were detected via histopathological examination and confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Both pan-cytoketatin and Ki67 assays tested positive in the kidney, lung, and spinal cord. Interestingly, COX- 2 had mild immunoreactivity in the kidney, but its labeling was intense in the spinal cord and lung. Though seemingly rare, the spinal cord may possibly be a focus point for metastasis of renal cell carcinomas. Because symptoms can easily be misunderstood, late diagnoses would not be uncommon and may hinder clinical management of the disease.