Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Why some dogs with gliomatosis cerebri have normal MRI but show brain
By Bentley, R T et al.·Published in Veterinary and comparative oncology·2016·Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: A comparison of clinical, magnetic resonance imaging and pathological findings in dogs with gliomatosis cerebri, focusing on cases with minimal magnetic resonance imaging changes(‡).
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 7-year-old mixed-breed dog was brought in for neurological issues, but its MRI appeared normal. Despite this, the dog was found to have gliomatosis cerebri, a type of brain tumor that can be hard to detect with imaging. In many cases, the clinical exam suggested localized disease, but the tumor had spread to areas that looked normal on the MRI. This highlights that even if an MRI seems clear, there could still be serious underlying issues. Treatment options were not detailed, but early detection is crucial for managing this condition.
People also search for: dog brain tumor symptoms · why is my dog having seizures · MRI normal but dog has neurological issues
Abstract
The primary study objective was to determine whether clinical examination and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can underestimate canine gliomatosis cerebri (GC); we also investigated immunohistochemical features. Seven dogs with GC were studied; four recruited specifically because of minimal MRI changes. Neuroanatomic localization and the distribution of MRI, gross and sub-gross lesions were compared with the actual histological distribution of neoplastic cells. In six cases, clinical examination predicted focal disease and MRI demonstrated a single lesion or appeared normal. Neoplastic cells infiltrated many regions deemed normal by clinical examination and MRI, and were Olig2-positive and glial fibrillary acid protein-negative. Four dogs had concurrent gliomas. GC is a differential diagnosis for dogs with focal neurological deficits and a normal MRI or a focal MRI lesion. Canine GC is probably mainly oligodendrocytic. Type II GC, a solid glioma accompanying diffuse central nervous system neoplastic infiltration, occurs in dogs as in people.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24945683/