Clinical, advanced imaging data and outcome of inflammatory and neoplastic orbital disease in 81 dogs and 16 cats in Australia (2010-2019).

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the clinical presentation, advanced imaging features, and outcome of orbital disease in a referral population of dogs and cats that underwent computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). ANIMALS STUDIED: Client-owned animals. PROCEDURES: Animals referred for orbital disease undergoing ophthalmic examination and either head MRI or CT were included. Demographic and imaging features were compared between animals diagnosed with inflammatory disease and neoplastic disease using Mann-Whitney U and Fischer's exact tests. RESULTS: Ninety-seven animals (81 dogs and 16 cats) were included. Eighty-four and 13 patients underwent CT and MRI scanning, respectively. Inflammatory orbital disease was more frequently detected than neoplasia in dogs (59% vs. 41%) and cats (62% vs. 39%). Orbital cellulitis was the most common diagnosis in dogs (36/81, 44.4%) and cats (8/16, 80%). A foreign body was suspected in 36.1% of dogs with orbital cellulitis but only 3 were retrieved during orbitotomy. Multi-drug resistant bacteria were identified in 3 samples and influenced treatment plans. The most common neoplasms were sarcoma (10/30) and carcinoma (7/30) in dogs and lymphoma in cats (3/6). Imaging findings of osteolysis (p = 0.0002) and intracranial extension (p = 0.0001) were significantly associated with neoplasia in dogs. In contrast, osteolysis extension was present in cats with both inflammatory (7/10) and neoplastic (6/6) orbital disease. CONCLUSIONS: Inflammatory disease, particularly orbital cellulitis, was more common than neoplasia in dogs and cats with orbital disease in our population. We recommend including bacterial culture and susceptibility as part of the diagnostic work up when orbital cellulitis is suspected.

A case of unilateral periorbital cellulitis and mandibular osteomyelitis in a turkey flock.

A farm of meat turkeys was affected by a condition, clinically characterized by unilateral inflammation of the orbital region and progressive crossing of the beak, observed in three successive flocks in 2010. While no toxic, genetic, technical, or diet causes could be found, pathologic and bacteriologic analyses were conducted to investigate the case. Pathologic analyses of the heads of affected birds showed blepharitis and exudative sinusitis as well as severe chronic osteomyelitis of all skull bones and mandibula. Staphylococcus aureus was consistently isolated from these lesions. It is supposed that the severe bacterial osteomyelitis induced deviation of some bones, thereby leading to deviation of the beak. Further investigations remain to be carried out to explain these successive outbreaks of staphylococcal osteomyelitis in skull bones.

A review of orbital and intracranial magnetic resonance imaging in 79 canine and 13 feline patients (2004-2010).

OBJECTIVE: To review the distribution of orbital and intracranial disease in canine and feline patients undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) following referral to a veterinary ophthalmologist and to correlate results of MRI with pathologic conditions including neoplasia, suspected optic neuritis (ON) and orbital cellulitis. Recognized and emerging imaging techniques are reviewed. PROCEDURE: Medical records of 79 canine and 13 feline patients were reviewed. RESULTS: Neoplasia was diagnosed in 53/92 (57.6%) of patients. The most prevalent types of neoplasia were carcinoma (16/53, 30.1%), sarcoma (11/53, 20.8%), lymphoma (8/53, 15.1%) and presumptive meningioma (9/53, 17.0%). Carcinomas and sarcomas were characterized by bony lysis and intracranial/sinonasal extension. Lymphoma was generally unilateral, less invasive and originated from the ventromedial orbit. Intracranial masses representing presumptive meningiomas frequently exhibited a 'dural tail' sign. Diagnosis of suspected ON was made in 13 of 92 (14.1%) patients. Results of MRI in patients with suspected ON included unilateral optic nerve hyperintensity (3/13, 23.0%), bilateral optic nerve hyperintensity (1/13, 7.7%) and optic chiasmal hyperintensity (3/13, 23.0%). Seven suspected ON patients demonstrated intracranial multifocal patchy contrast enhancement (7/13, 53.8%). Diagnosis of orbital cellulitis was made in 12/92 (13.0%) patients. CONCLUSIONS: Orbital neoplasia was the most common pathologic condition detected. Essential Roentgen characteristics are helpful when diagnosing pathologic processes and providing prognoses in cases of orbital or intracranial disease. Magnetic resonance imaging comprises an important diagnostic component in cases of suspected ON. Emerging contrast and functional MRI techniques as well as SI data may increase our ability to characterize disease processes.