Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
MRI shows cerebellar stroke signs in 12 dogs
By McConnell, J F et al.·Published in Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association·2005·Animal Health Trust, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Magnetic resonance imaging findings of presumed cerebellar cerebrovascular accident in twelve dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Twelve dogs were diagnosed with suspected strokes after showing signs like uncoordinated movements or balance issues. MRI scans revealed brain lesions, mostly in the cerebellum, which is responsible for coordination. The scans helped confirm the diagnosis, and some dogs showed mild contrast enhancement in the affected areas. The findings suggest that spaniels and their mixes may be more prone to these types of strokes. Treatment options were not detailed, but early diagnosis is crucial for managing symptoms and improving outcomes.
People also search for: dog stroke symptoms · spaniel coordination problems · MRI for dog brain issues
Abstract
The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of presumed cerebrovascular accident in 12 dogs are described. Fourteen lesions were seen, commonly (11 of 14) within the gray matter of the cerebellar hemispheres or vermis. Thirteen lesions were hyperintense on T2-weighted images (in 11 dogs) and one was hypointense. Eleven of 14 lesions were within the region supplied by the rostral cerebellar artery or one of its main branches and there was no, or minimal, mass effect. Contrast enhancement was only seen in six lesions and was mild in all. Gradient-echo images provided additional information in two dogs. The appearance of infarction in dogs with diffusion-weighted images (DWI) is similar to that in humans, and provided supportive evidence for the diagnosis of infarction in five dogs. The use of gradient-echo and DWI is recommended for the evaluation of suspected cerebrovascular accidents in dogs. Six of the 12 affected animals were spaniels or spaniel crosses, suggesting a possible breed predisposition.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15693551/