Patient was a 13yr collie mix who has already undergone a splenectomy for a benign mass in 2022 and an adrenalectomy for an adenoma in 2023.

She presented in the summer of 2024 for neck pain and difficulty walking.  After testing positive for tick borne bacterial diseases Lyme, Anaplasma, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, she was started on Doxycycline.

When her status did not improve, she was evaluated with a CT scan and found to have an extradural mass dorsal at C3 with bone lysis and spinal cord compression. Prednisone and Gabapentin were started.

Figure 1: CT scan of the patient 

As she continued to have neck pain and trouble walking, the owners elected to pursue surgery. A dorsal laminectomy was performed by Dr. Agrodnia and all visible compressive tissue was removed from above C3. Patient recovered well and was walking better within the week. She was referred to medical oncology who confirmed the diagnosis of plasma cell tumor and started appropriate medical management.

Authored by: Marta Agrodnia, DVM, DACVS-SA (Surgery)