Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Signs, MRI results, and outcomes of dogs with brain empyema
By Forward, Alexander K et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary emergency and critical care (San Antonio, Tex. : 2001)·2019·Department of Clinical Science and Services, United Kingdom·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 We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above.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: Retrospective evaluation of the clinical presentation, magnetic resonance imaging findings, and outcome of dogs diagnosed with intracranial empyema (2008-2015): 9 cases.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 3.5-year-old dog was brought to the vet as an emergency due to neurological issues and swelling around the eye. After imaging and tests, the dog was diagnosed with intracranial empyema, a serious infection in the brain. The vet performed surgery and treated the dog with antibiotics for about six weeks. Thankfully, the dog recovered well and was discharged after a week in the hospital. Four out of the seven dogs treated in the study were still alive and doing well months later, showing that with the right treatment, dogs can recover from this rare condition.
People also search for: dog neurological problems · dog eye swelling treatment · intracranial empyema in dogs · dog brain infection symptoms · dog surgery recovery time
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical presentation, advanced imaging findings, and short- and long-term outcomes in dogs with intracranial empyema. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. ANIMALS: Client-owned dogs diagnosed with intracranial empyema. METHODS: Medical records from 2 referral hospitals were searched for dogs diagnosed with intracranial empyema. To be included in this study, dogs had to fulfill 1 or more of the following 3 inclusion criteria: a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan with space occupying accumulation of extra-axial material suggestive of empyema, a cerebrospinal fluid analysis suggestive of empyema, or direct visualization of purulent material during intracranial surgery. RESULTS: Nine dogs with intracranial empyema were included, with a median age of 3.5 years (range: 4 mo-12.5 y). All presented as emergencies with 7 of the 9 dogs showing neurological abnormalities and 2 of the 9 with retrobulbar swelling and exophthalmos. Six had surgical intervention, 1 was medically managed, and the remaining 2 dogs were euthanized. Typical MRI findings included extra-axial, T1-weighted hypo- to isointense, T2-weighted hyperintense material compared to gray matter with varying degrees of contrast enhancement, with 6 of 8 showing evidence of contiguous infection from adjacent structures on MRI. For 7 dogs, ≥1 samples were sent for culture and sensitivity, with Enterococcus (surgical swab), Streptococcus pneumonia (from cerebral spinal fluid), and coagulase positive Staphylococcus (ear swab) being cultured. The median antimicrobial course length was 6 weeks (range: 2-28 wk). All dogs for which treatment was attempted survived to discharge, with a median hospitalization time of 7 days (range: 4-10 d). Four of the 7 are still alive at the time of writing (1 lost to follow-up; 2 euthanized for other reasons) with all 4 considered neurologically normal with a successful long-term outcome. CONCLUSION: Although intracranial empyema in dogs is a rare condition, excellent outcomes are possible in those cases treated appropriately.
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/31218823/