case number 19 05/23/2008
 

A 4 year old spayed female Rottweiler was presented with progressive left front leg lameness for the past few months.
On presentation the dog was febrile (104 Fahrenheit, 40 Celsius), with a  soft tissue swelling of the left front leg extending from the mid humerus distally.
Click on the image (lateral view of the LFL) to view full size.
Radiographs of the right elbow revealed degenerative changes within the joint, and are not presented here.
Use the comments link to post your interpretation.

There are many periarticular osteophytes in the  proximal radius, articular surfaces of the ulna and the distal humerus. The region of the medial coronoid process is irregular and flattened. There is evidence of bone lysis associated with the distal humerus accompanied by soft tissue swelling surrounding the elbow.
These findings are compatible with chronic degenerative joint disease, probably due to fragmented medial coronoid process, and concurrent septic arthritis versus synovial cell sarcoma.
The definitive diagnosis was synovial cell sarcoma.

 


Comments

Jennifer Rothman, DVM

Wed, 28 May 2008 05:29:02

There is loss of the distal humeral cortices, and also some reactive areas on the ulnar cortex. Since the reaction is more destructive rather than productive I think more in the direction of something septic- bacterial vs fungal. Also due to the fever.

 

Jennifer Rothman, DVM

Wed, 28 May 2008 05:31:03

Forgot to mention that OSA etc. are not likely due to the "away from the elbow close to the knee" rule..

 



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