Vestibular syndrome due to a choroid plexus papilloma in a ferret.

A 6-year-old, castrated male ferret (Mustela putorius furo) was presented with progressive neurological signs consisting of a right-sided head tilt and ataxia. Neurological examination revealed hemiparesis and absence of proprioception on the right side, consistent with central vestibular syndrome. Measurement of blood glucose excluded hypoglycemia due to insulinoma. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed the presence of an intracranial mass, consistent with either granuloma or neoplasia. Palliative treatment with prednisolone yielded no improvement. At postmortem examination, a final diagnosis of a choroid plexus papilloma originating from the fourth ventricle was made. This is the first report of such a tumor in a ferret.

Computed tomography of necrotizing meningoencephalitis in 3 Yorkshire Terriers.

A necrotizing meningoencephalitis of Yorkshire terriers has recently been reported in 6 dogs in Switzerland, 1 dog in Japan and 1 dog in the United States. The purpose of this report is to describe the computed tomographic (CT) findings in 3 dogs with this disease, and to correlate the CT abnormalities with the clinical and pathologic findings in each case. Three Yorkshire Terriers between 2 and 10 years old were evaluated. Physical and neurologic examinations, complete blood count (CBC), serum biochemistry profile, cerebrospinal fluid analysis, and CT scan were performed on all 3 dogs. Brainstem auditory evoked responses (BAER) were evaluated for 2 dogs. Two dogs were euthanized at the owners' request and necropsies were performed. Neurologic examination findings were consistent with a multifocal/diffuse encephalitis involving the cerebrum and brainstem in all 3 dogs. Complete blood count and biochemistry profiles were normal. Elevated protein concentration and a mononuclear pleocytosis were demonstrated in 2 of 3 dogs on cerebrospinal fluid evaluation. Multifocal, extensive areas of decreased opacity throughout the cerebral hemispheres, asymmetric ventriculomegaly, and lack of contrast enhancement were appreciated on CT images of all three dogs. No mass effect was seen. These findings correlated well with pathologic findings at necropsy, which included multiple malacic cavitations within the brain, representing areas of locally extensive necrosis. CT abnormalities in combination with signalment, clinical findings and cerebrospinal fluid analysis should facilitate a presumptive diagnosis of Yorkshire Terrier necrotizing meningoencephalitis.

Computed tomography of cholesterinic granulomas in the choroid plexus of horses.

Cholesterinic granulomas are tumor-like masses in the choroid plexuses of horses. This report describes the computed tomographic findings in four horses with cholesterinic granulomas, including the clinical and the pathologic features. All four horses had bilateral cholesterinic granulomas in the lateral ventricles. Computed tomographic images clearly delineated the masses, the opacity of the granulomas, and the enhancement pattern after intravenous bolus injection of contrast medium; these factors varied considerably. Additional CT findings were symmetric or asymmetric widening of the lateral ventricles.

Meio de contraste ioversol em neuroradiologia canina / Ioversol contrast medium in canine neuroradiology

O ioversol, contraste iodado hidrossolúvel näo iônico, na concentraçäo de 320mg 1/ml foi utilizado para a realizaçäo de 26 estudos neuroradiográficos contrastados (mielografias, epidurografias, e ventriculografia cerebral) em 23 cäes. Devido à rápida absorçäo do contraste, as melhores radiografias foram obtidas nos primeiros 30 minutos. O produto ofereceu apropriadas radiopacidade, tempo de permanência, difusäo e miscibilidade no líqüor, facilitando os diagnósticos, assim como mínima ocorrência de reaçöes indesejáveis durante e após o procedimento radiológico. Apesar de terem sido utilizados para a anestesia, as associaçöes zolazepam-tiletamina e levomepromazina; xilazina ou diazepam-tiopental sódico, nenhum paciente desenvolveu convulsöes. A apresentaçäo do ioversol em frasco ampola foi também outra vantagem, por diminuir o desperdício e facilitar a reesterilizaçäo do excedente na altoclave.

[Catheterization of the cerebral ventricles by the rostral method in cattle]. / Cathétérisme des ventricules encéphaliques par voie rostrale chez les bovins.

A new means of access to the encephalic ventricles in the cow has been proposed, consisting of the catheterization of the olfactory recess, situated approximately 25 mm under the skin in the frontal region, vertically from a point situated 15 mm laterally from the median plane at the level of a line drawn between the lateral angles of the eyes. Radiographs show that a radioopaque medium can be diffused throughout the cavities on both sides.

Stereotaxic approach to hypothalamic nuclei of the Shiba goat with radiographic monitoring.

Practical method was devised for precise approach to hypothalamic nuclei in the Shiba goat. A stereotaxic instrument and a brain atlas with stereotaxic coordinates were developed. For an accurate placement of probes into specific hypothalamic regions a radiographic method was employed in which radio-opaque material was injected into the lateral ventricle and the ventricular outline was depicted. A sagittal diagram showing the arrangement of hypothalamic nuclei in relation to the brain ventricular system was constructed from the transverse stereotaxic atlas. This diagram was revealed extremely useful in pinpointing the target on the radiographs of lateral view. Precision of this method was evaluated in female Shiba goats (n = 4) by comparing radiographically estimated positions of hypothalamic nuclei with those histologically determined. Despite of cranial variability among individual animals these two parameters matched well each other in all the nuclei examined. Furthermore, chronic cannulae were implanted into different hypothalamic structures of one goat and the accuracy of their placement was confirmed histologically. Thus, it was revealed that the stereotaxy by aid of radiography herein described was accurate enough to apply to various neuroendocrinological studies in the Shiba goat.