Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
MRI signs of late brain tissue death in a dog after sudden blindness
By Alisauskaite, Neringa et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2019·Department of Small Animal Surgery·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Conventional and functional magnetic resonance imaging features of late subacute cortical laminar necrosis in a dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 3-year-old Belgian Shepherd suddenly went blind after undergoing general anesthesia and was brought to the vet for help. Neurological tests showed signs of central blindness and some coordination issues. An advanced MRI scan revealed specific brain changes consistent with a condition called cortical laminar necrosis, likely caused by a lack of oxygen during anesthesia. The imaging helped the vets understand the extent of the brain damage. While the outcome isn't detailed, identifying the issue is the first step toward potential treatment and recovery.
People also search for: dog sudden blindness after anesthesia · Belgian Shepherd brain injury · dog MRI results explained
Abstract
Cerebral cortical laminar necrosis (CLN) is a consequence of severe hypoxic, ischemic, or hypoglycemic events. In humans, these cortical lesions show characteristic linear T1-weighted (T1W) hyperintensity in the late subacute stage. Limited information reporting magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in dogs affected by CLN is available. A 3-year-old Belgian Shepherd dog was referred 8 days after sudden onset of blindness after general anesthesia. Neurological examination showed central blindness and mild ataxia. Three-Tesla MRI examination of the brain revealed bilateral asymmetrical areas of T2-weighted hyperintensity within the occipital, parietal, temporal, and frontal cortex, involving gray and white matter. Furthermore, linear T1W-hyperintense lesions were found in the cerebral cortex of the same areas and showed heterogeneous contrast enhancement. Perfusion-weighted images revealed hyperperfusion in the affected regions. Lesions were compatible with subacute CLN with corresponding edema suspected to be secondary to anesthesia-related brain hypoxia. Three-Tesla MRI enabled identification of the laminar pattern of the cortical lesions.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31120629/