title: Malignant transformation of solitary spinal osteochondroma in two mature dogs.
abstract: Canine osteochondroma is an uncommon bony tumor that arises in skeletally immature animals. Consequently, clinical signs typically occur in young dogs as a result of impingement of normal structures by the tumor. Radiographically, osteochondromas are benign in appearance. They are well circumscribed and cause no bony lysis nor periosteal proliferation. Osteochondromas may occur in two forms; solitary or multiple. Although histology and biologic behavior are identical, when in the multiple form the condition has been termed multiple cartilaginous exostoses. Malignant transformation of multiple cartilaginous exostoses has been reported in three mature dogs. We report two dogs with malignant transformation of solitary spinal osteochondromas. Both underwent transformation to osteosarcoma. Despite the benign radiographic appearance of osteochondromas and multiple cartilaginous exostoses, clinical signs should alert the clinician to the possibility of malignant transformation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Veterinary Medicine, 53706, USA.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Steinberg
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001857:Bone Matrix / Q000473:pathology; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000473:pathology*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000473:pathology; D015831:Osteochondroma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D010011:Osteocytes / Q000473:pathology; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D011859:Radiography; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology