Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with right face itching and muscle loss diagnosed with trigeminal
By Saunders, J H et al.·Published in Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association·1998·Department of Medical Imaging·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Probable trigeminal nerve schwannoma in a dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 7-year-old male Husky developed facial muscle wasting and itching on the right side of his face. After tests ruled out muscle issues, an MRI revealed a mass affecting the trigeminal nerve, which is responsible for sensation in the face. Although corticosteroids provided some relief, the dog's condition worsened over three months, leading to euthanasia. Unfortunately, no further examination was done after his passing.
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Abstract
A 7-year-old male Husky dog developed atrophy of the right masseter muscle and pruritus of the right side of the face. A myogenic origin was excluded using muscular biopsy. Electrophysiologically, there was involvement of the motor and sensory fibers of the trigeminal nerve, suggesting a lesion located between the brainstem and the trigeminal ganglion. On MRI examination, a nodular mass was detected in the right caudal fossa. This mass was characterized by intense enhancement after injection of contrast medium. Because of the progressive clinical signs, electrophysiology, and MRI results, a presumptive diagnosis of a trigeminal nerve schwannoma was made. The animal's condition improved slightly with corticosteroids. The dog underwent euthanasia 3 months after initial presentation. Necropsy was not performed.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9845193/