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Peer-reviewed veterinary case report

Brain scans show differences in tumors and inflammation in dogs

By Carrera, Inés et al.·Published in American journal of veterinary research·2016·View original on PubMed

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Original publication title: Evaluation of intracranial neoplasia and noninfectious meningoencephalitis in dogs by use of short echo time, single voxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy at 3.0 Tesla.

Species:
dog

Plain-English summary

A group of 29 dogs with brain issues, including tumors and noninfectious meningoencephalitis (inflammation of the brain and its surrounding tissues), underwent a special MRI scan to check their brain chemistry. The results showed that dogs with tumors had lower levels of certain brain chemicals (N-acetyl aspartate, creatine, and glutamate) and higher levels of choline compared to healthy dogs. This information can help veterinarians better understand and differentiate between these serious conditions in dogs. The study suggests that advanced imaging techniques can provide valuable insights into brain health in dogs with these conditions.

People also search for: dog brain tumor symptoms · noninfectious meningoencephalitis treatment in dogs · MRI for dog brain problems

Abstract

OBJECTIVE To investigate metabolite concentrations of the brains of dogs with intracranial neoplasia or noninfectious meningoencephalitis by use of short echo time, single voxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H MRS) at 3.0 T. ANIMALS 29 dogs with intracranial lesions (14 with neoplasia [3 oligodendromas, 3 glioblastomas multiformes, 3 astrocytomas, 2 lymphomas, and 3 meningiomas] and 15 is with noninfectious meningoencephalitis) and 10 healthy control dogs. PROCEDURES Short echo time, single voxel (1)H-MRS at 3.0 T was performed on neoplastic and noninfectious inflammatory intracranial lesions identified with conventional MRI. Metabolites of interest included N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), total choline, creatine, myoinositol, the glutamine-glutamate complex (Glx), glutathione, taurine, lactate, and lipids. Data were analyzed with postprocessing fitting algorithm software. Metabolite concentrations relative to brain water content were calculated and compared with results for the healthy control dogs, which had been previously evaluated with the same (1)H MRS technique. RESULTS NAA, creatine, and Glx concentrations were reduced in the brains of dogs with neoplasia and noninfectious meningoencephalitis, whereas choline concentration was increased. Concentrations of these metabolites differed significantly between dogs with neoplasia and dogs with noninfectious meningoencephalitis. Concentrations of NAA, creatine, and Glx were significantly lower in dogs with neoplasia, whereas the concentration of choline was significantly higher in dogs with neoplasia. Lipids were predominantly found in dogs with high-grade intra-axial neoplasia, meningioma, and necrotizing meningoencephalitis. A high concentration of taurine was found in 10 of 15 dogs with noninfectious meningoencephalitis. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE (1)H MRS provided additional metabolic information about intracranial neoplasia and noninfectious meningoencephalitis in dogs.

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Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27111012/