Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat with ear polyp causing brain infection and head tilt
By Cook, Laurie B et al.·Published in Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association·2003·Department of Veterinary Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Inflammatory polyp in the middle ear with secondary suppurative meningoencephalitis in a cat.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 15-month-old male Maine Coon cat was brought to the vet with ongoing ear discharge, a head tilt, and trouble balancing. After imaging tests, the vet found a growth in the ear and inflammation in the brain. The cat underwent surgery to remove the growth, which was identified as an inflammatory polyp, and was treated with antibiotics for 10 weeks. The cat showed significant improvement in weight, appetite, energy, and balance, although it still had a slight head tilt afterward.
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Abstract
A 15-month-old male Maine Coon Cat presented with persistent auricular discharge and progressive head tilt, ataxia, and loss of blink on the right side. Using computed tomography a hyperattenuating, contrast-enhancing material within a thickened right tympanic bulla and contrast enhancement of the adjacent cerebellum were identified. Marked suppurative inflammation was identified on cerebrospinal fluid analysis with no growth on bacterial culture. Ventral bulla osteotomy was performed to remove a soft tissue mass, and an inflammatory polyp with chronic severe suppurative inflammation was confirmed using histology. Staphylococcus auricularis was grown on aerobic culture and Fusobacterium necrophorum and Peptostreptococcus anaerobius were grown on anaerobic culture. The cat was treated for 10 weeks with amoxicillin/clavulinic acid and metronidazole. Dramatic improvement in body weight, appetite, energy level, balance, and resolution of right-sided facial paralysis were noted, but the cat retained a head tilt.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14703245/