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Peer-reviewed veterinary case report

Insulinoma with basal ganglion involvement detected by magnetic resonance imaging in a dog.

Journal:
The Journal of veterinary medical science
Year:
2009
Authors:
Fukazawa, Kazumasa et al.
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Radiology · Japan
Species:
dog

Plain-English summary

A West Highland White Terrier was taken to the vet because it was having seizures and walking unsteadily. An MRI of the dog's brain revealed a problem in a part of the brain called the basal ganglion. To investigate further, the vets did an ultrasound of the abdomen and found a tumor in the pancreas, which they suspected was causing the brain issues. They surgically removed the tumor, which was identified as an insulinoma (a type of tumor that produces insulin). After the surgery, the dog's neurological symptoms did not return, and a follow-up MRI three months later showed that the brain issue had shrunk. Overall, the treatment was successful.

Abstract

A West Highland White Terrier was brought to our veterinary hospital with the chief complaints of seizures and staggering gait. When cephalic Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed, a symmetrical lesion was found in the basal ganglion. Suspecting a metabolic disorder, an abdominal ultrasonography was performed, and a tumor was found in the pancreas. The pancreatic tumor was surgically removed based on suspicion that it had induced the brain damage. The resected tumor was histopathologically diagnosed as an insulinoma. After removal, recurrence of neurological symptoms was not observed. MRI 3 months post-operation showed a reduction in the size of the brain lesion. Consequently, the tumor was thought to have induced the lesion in the basal ganglion, and this was verified by MRI. This case was considered to be extremely rare.

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Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19498303/