A 7 year old Leonberger had minimal pain in the left forelimb Pain could be elicited by deep palpation just proximal to the radiocarpal joint. The pain did not seem to be from the joint. Radiographs were made of the affected limb. Left distal antebrachium Radiographic diagnosis
- The radiographs of the left antebrachium were evaluated quickly and thought initially to be within normal limits.
- Because of the dog’s age and owner’s insistence that the lameness was progressing, the opposite limb was radiographed as a comparison study.
Dorsopalmar comparison studies Right Left Lateral comparison studies Right Left Radiographic changes
- Areas of radiolucency are present in the distal metaphysis on the left
- A thin zone of periosteal new bone is present between the distal radius and ulna
- The cranial cortex is less sharply identified on the left
- Minimal soft tissue is present on the left
- The joints are thought normal radiographically
- No soft tissue lesions are noted
- These changes are minimal, but suspicious of a primary bone lesion either neoplastic or inflammatory in etiology with neoplastic more likely
Comments
- The radiographic changes are minimal but sufficient from which to make a tentative diagnosis of primary bone tumor (osteosarcoma) - the breed, patient age, bone affected, and involvement of the distal metaphysis are all supportive of diagnosis of a primary bone tumor
- The dog was returned to the referring clinician with suggestion to radiograph the thorax and repeat the radiographs of the lesion - it was then lost to followup
- It is generally not acceptable to publish unproven cases, but this was such a classic case of minimal radiographic changes that I am doing it without a definitive diagnosis utilizing histopathology – this is a case that should have follow-up radiographs within 2-3 weeks
