3T MRI characteristics of the palatine tonsil in brachycephalic dogs

Abstract

Background Investigation of the MRI characteristics of the palatine tonsil in brachycephalic dogs in 3T high‐field system. Methods Eighty‐five brachycephalic dogs and 37 normocephalic dogs were divided into five groups: group 1 French bulldogs (FBs) with neurological clinical signs (n = 37), group 2 FBs with brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) (n = 22), group 3 pugs with neurological clinical signs (n = 17), group 4 pugs with BOAS (n = 9) and group 5 normocephalic dogs (n = 37). Cross‐sectional area and volume measurements were performed, and tonsillar margination and contour, shape, signal intensity and homogeneity/heterogeneity of the palatine tonsils were evaluated and compared. Results Cross‐sectional area and volume measurements of the tonsils showed no significant differences between brachycephalic and normocephalic dogs with the exception of the dogs of group 2 (FB BOAS), which showed relatively high volume and large cross‐sectional area in comparison to other groups. In 87% of the brachycephalic animals, the tonsils were well defined. A smooth contour was detectable in 91.8% and a rounded shape in 94.7% of brachycephalic dogs. Signal intensity was assessed as hyperintense in relation to the musculature and iso‐ to hyperintense to the soft palate. Heterogeneous appearance was described in 86.9% of the brachycephalic animals. Conclusions The MRI characteristics of the tonsils of brachycephalic dogs do not differ considerably from those of normocephalic dogs. In FBs with distinct clinical signs of obstructive airway syndrome, increase in cross‐sectional area and volume of the tonsils was detected.

Evaluation of Presumptive Normal Feline Tonsils with Low-Field Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A Preliminary Retrospective Study

“…The inclusion criteria included the following: cats at least 1-year-old at the time of the image acquisition, since tonsils in young animals are physiologically prominent due to the hyperplasia of the lymphatic tissue during the 'maturation' of the immune system and protrude from the epithelial pocket [5,9,10]. No clinical signs of disease in the area of drainage of the tonsils, including coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge, vomiting, or swelling of the head and neck, or if they had the suspicion of both oral or proximal airway inflammatory processes or neoplasia.…”

“…MRI is considered the technique of choice in depicting soft tissue, and it is also able to show possible concurrent bone involvement or invasion [5,6]. In human medicine, MRI is commonly used in the investigation of tonsillar diseases, including neoplasia [7], and increasing interest has been also given to take a first step towards high spatial resolution 3D imaging of the human palatine tonsil [8].…”