Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
MRI inner ear scans in dogs with balance problems
By Castillo, Gibrann et al.·Published in Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association·2020·Department of Clinical Studies, Canada·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Inner ear fluid-attenuated inversion recovery MRI signal intensity in dogs with vestibular disease.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs with vestibular disease, which can cause symptoms like loss of balance and dizziness, underwent MRI scans to check for inner ear problems. The study found that dogs with otitis media/interna (an infection in the middle and inner ear) showed less suppression in MRI images compared to healthy dogs and the unaffected ear. This suggests that FLAIR MRI can be a useful tool for diagnosing ear infections in dogs. The findings indicate that if your dog has vestibular signs, an MRI could help identify if an ear infection is the cause.
People also search for: dog vestibular disease symptoms · dog ear infection MRI · how to treat dog otitis media
Abstract
The inner ear contains endolymph and perilymph. The second is comparable and in continuity with the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) so it is expected to suppress in fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) if normal. Even though inner ear FLAIR abnormalities have been extensively described in humans with inner ear disease, its diagnostic value in dogs is yet to be proven. The goal of this retrospective cohort study was to investigate the diagnostic utility of FLAIR MRI in dogs with vestibular disease. A review of medical records identified 101 dogs that had brain MRI performed because of vestibular signs. Based on the final diagnosis, patients were allocated to three groups: otitis media/interna, idiopathic vestibular disease, and central vestibular disease. Additionally, a control group (n = 73) included dogs with normal MRI and without vestibular signs. Inner ears were delineated using a region of interest, and signal intensity was measured in FLAIR and T2-weighted images. The percentages of suppression in FLAIR were calculated and compared between affected and unaffected sides of each individual and between groups using a general linear mixed model. Correlation between suppression and CSF cell count and protein concentration was assessed. Affected inner ears in dogs with otitis media/interna had decreased suppression in FLAIR compared to the unaffected side (P < .001), and all other groups (P < .01). No significant correlation was detected between CSF results and suppression. These results show the diagnostic value of FLAIR in otitis media/interna due to lack of suppression in the affected inner ear.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32564460/