IMAGING DIAGNOSIS-IMAGING AND HISTOPATHOLOGIC CHARACTERISTICS OF A VERTEBRAL HAMARTOMA IN A CAT.

A 9-month-old domestic shorthair cat had progressive ambulatory paraparesis, proprioceptive ataxia, and thoracolumbar hyperesthesia. An extradural mass affecting the left pedicle and lamina of the second lumbar vertebra (L2) causing marked spinal cord impingement was identified in magnetic resonance (MR) images. The mass was predominantly calcified in computed tomographic (CT) images. A hemilaminectomy was performed to resect the mass. Clinical signs were greatly improved at 12-month follow-up. The histopathologic diagnosis was vascular hamartoma. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing the MR characteristics of a vascular hamartoma associated with the vertebral column.