Sporadic Conditions Affecting the Spinal Cord: Parasitic Migration and Neoplastic Disease

Abstract

In this article, we describe sporadic diseases affecting the equine spinal cord, namely parasitic migrations causing a syndrome of acquired cervical scoliosis and neoplastic disease. In addition to describing interesting and novel disease mechanisms, both of these diseases illustrate the importance of making an accurate neuroanatomic diagnosis in the overall interpretation of equine neurological disease. Also, it stresses that clinicians should include sporadic diseases in the differential diagnosis, and we discuss ancillary diagnostic options.