# Caudal lumbar subarachnoid diverticulum in a Cockapoo

**Authors:** Joe Poacher, Paul Freeman

PMC · DOI: 10.1093/jvimsj/aalag014 · 2026-02-14

## TL;DR

A Cockapoo was diagnosed with a rare spinal condition called a subarachnoid diverticulum, which was successfully treated with surgery.

## Contribution

This case report presents a rare spinal condition in a Cockapoo, highlighting its diagnostic and clinical features.

## Key findings

- MRI identified a subarachnoid diverticulum at L6-7 containing cerebrospinal fluid.
- Surgical confirmation and decompression led to full clinical resolution.
- The condition initially mimicked an intervertebral disc extrusion.

## Abstract

We describe a Cockapoo with a subarachnoid diverticulum (Type III), at the level of L6-7. Magnetic resonance imaging identified a circumferential dilatation of the dural sac, extending from the cranial endplate of L6 to the midbody of L7, containing T2-weighted hyperintense and T1-weighted hypointense material that suppressed on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery sequences, consistent with cerebrospinal fluid. An exploratory dorsal laminectomy confirmed a subarachnoid diverticulum (Type III), and a durotomy was performed. After surgical decompression, full clinical resolution was observed. This case had a clinical presentation that mimicked an intervertebral disc extrusion.

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** CSF2 (colony stimulating factor 2) [NCBI Gene 403923] {aka GM-CSF}
- **Diseases:** thoracolumbar lesions (MESH:D009059), neurologic disease (MESH:D020271), abnormal gait (MESH:D020233), diverticulum (MESH:D004240), neurologic deficits (MESH:D009461), cervical lesions (MESH:D002575), intervertebral disc protrusion (MESH:D007405), inflammatory conditions (MESH:D007249), arachnoid diverticula (MESH:D016080), Pain (MESH:D010146), hindlimb lameness (MESH:D007794), caudal articular process dysplasia (MESH:C537221), neoplasia (MESH:D009369), nerve root compression (MESH:D011843), arachnoid diverticulum (MESH:D001100), otitis externa (MESH:D010032), Type III (MESH:C536044), Cockapoo (MESH:C537866), paraparesis (MESH:D020335), caudal lumbar spinal cyst (MESH:D003560), Hansen Type 2 (MESH:D007918), hip dysplasia (MESH:D006617), cauda equina (MESH:D011128), persistent ventriculus terminalis (MESH:D000088562), SAD (MESH:D013345), neurologic damage (MESH:D020196), ataxia (MESH:D001259), intervertebral disc disease (MESH:C535531), synovial cyst (MESH:D013581), vertebral malformations (MESH:C535781), monoparesis (MESH:D010291), lethargy (MESH:D053609)
- **Chemicals:** miconazole nitrate (MESH:D008825), isoflurane (MESH:D007530), propofol (MESH:D015742), prednisolone acetate (MESH:C009935), bupivacaine (MESH:D002045), meloxicam (MESH:D000077239), gabapentin (MESH:D000077206), medetomidine (MESH:D020926), prednisolone (MESH:D011239), ketamine (-), methadone (MESH:D008691)
- **Species:** Canis lupus familiaris (dog, subspecies) [taxon 9615], Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Figures

4 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12906272/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12906272