Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Maltese dog with one-sided face weakness from brain cyst
By Kim, Ju-Won et al.·Published in The Journal of veterinary medical science·2011·BK21 Basic & Diagnostic Veterinary Specialist Program for Animal Diseases and Department of Veterinary Internal Medicine, South Korea·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Unilateral facial paresis secondary to a suspected brainstem arachnoid cyst in a Maltese dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
An 8-year-old female Maltese was brought to the vet because she had trouble blinking and her eyes were not producing enough tears. After a thorough eye exam and an MRI, the vet found a cyst in her brain that was affecting her facial nerves. This cyst was likely an arachnoid cyst, which is a fluid-filled sac that can develop in the brain. While the report focuses on the diagnosis, it's important for pet owners to know that such conditions can lead to facial weakness and other symptoms. Treatment options would typically depend on the severity of the symptoms and the vet's recommendations.
People also search for: Maltese dog eye problems · dog facial nerve issues · arachnoid cyst in dogs · decreased tear production in dogs
Abstract
An 8-year-old, intact female Maltese dog was presented with decreased tear production and unilateral loss of eye blinking. Neuro-ophthalmic examination and brain magnetic resonance imaging were performed to determine the origin of facial paresis. A cystic lesion in the left pontomedullary region which displayed equal intensity to cerebrospinal fluid was revealed. Hyposignality was noted on fluid attenuated inversion recovery sequences, and the lesion was suggestive of an arachnoid cyst. This report described unilateral facial nerve dysfunction that resulted from a suspected brainstem arachnoid cyst in an unusual anatomic location.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21068518/