Intracranial medulloblastoma as the cause of progressive ataxia in a 6-month-old draft horse cross gelding.
Authors: Palmisano Megan, Bender Susan, Johnson Amy L
Journal: Journal of veterinary internal medicine
Summary
# Editorial Summary A 6-month-old draft horse cross gelding presented with progressive ataxia that initially appeared consistent with cervical myelopathy or multifocal spinal disease; however, diagnostic investigations including paired serum and cerebrospinal fluid analysis (negative for *Sarcocystis neurona* and *Neospora hughesi*) and contrast myelography (ruling out cervical compression) failed to identify a conventional diagnosis. Despite supportive management, the gelding's neurological signs deteriorated progressively, necessitating euthanasia; post-mortem examination revealed an intracranial mass associated with the cerebellum that was confirmed on histopathology to be a medulloblastoma—a tumour type previously unreported in equine medicine. This case highlights the importance of considering primary CNS neoplasia in young horses presenting with ataxia that resists conventional diagnostic categorisation, particularly when routine investigations exclude infectious and mechanical causes. Medulloblastoma, a malignant embryonal tumour typically arising from posterior fossa tissues, carries a grave prognosis and emphasises the value of advanced neuroimaging (MRI) when diagnosis remains elusive in cases of progressive neurological decline.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Young horses presenting with progressive ataxia and neurologic signs should have intracranial neoplasia considered in the differential diagnosis, even though it is rare
- •Negative results on infectious disease testing and myelography do not exclude CNS pathology; advanced imaging (MRI or necropsy) may be needed for definitive diagnosis
- •Awareness of this previously unreported condition helps practitioners recognize atypical neurologic presentations that may not respond to conventional treatments
Key Findings
- •Medulloblastoma, a cerebellar mass, was identified as the cause of progressive ataxia in a 6-month-old draft horse cross gelding
- •Clinical presentation mimicked cervical myelopathy with mild vestibular involvement, but contrast myelography ruled out cervical compression
- •Negative serology for Sarcocystis neurona and Neospora hughesi helped exclude common differential diagnoses
- •This is the first reported case of medulloblastoma in the horse species