Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
MRI shows chronic middle ear infection in a German shepherd dog
By Dvir, E et al.·Published in Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association·2000·Department of Medicine·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Magnetic resonance imaging of otitis media in a dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 20-month-old German Shepherd was brought in for vestibular signs, which can include balance issues and head tilting. The veterinarian used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to check for any brain problems but found no lesions. Instead, the MRI revealed chronic changes in the dog's ear structures, indicating otitis media (middle ear infection). This case shows that MRI can provide valuable information about ear infections that other imaging methods might miss.
People also search for: dog ear infection treatment · German Shepherd vestibular signs · MRI for dog ear problems
Abstract
Otitis media/interna was diagnosed in a 20-month-old German shepherd with the assistance of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. The MR images were acquired primarily to exclude a brain lesion responsible for vestibular signs. No brain lesion was detected, but obvious signs of chronic changes in the left bulla and external ear canal were confirmed. Thickening of the epithelium and soft tissue surrounding the external ear canal and a laminated appearance of high and low T2 intensities in the tympanic bulla's mucosa were present. The hypointense lines were suspected to be fibrous tissue, indicating chronic changes. This report suggests that MR imaging may serve as a useful imaging tool for otitis media and that it supplies information not obtained with radiography or computed tomography.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10695880/