Conventional and functional magnetic resonance imaging features of late subacute cortical laminar necrosis in a dog

Abstract

Cerebral cortical laminar necrosis (CLN) is a consequence of severe hypoxic, ischemic, or hypoglycemic events. In humans, these cortical lesions show characteristic linear T1‐weighted (T1W) hyperintensity in the late subacute stage. Limited information reporting magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in dogs affected by CLN is available. A 3‐year‐old Belgian Shepherd dog was referred 8 days after sudden onset of blindness after general anesthesia. Neurological examination showed central blindness and mild ataxia. Three‐Tesla MRI examination of the brain revealed bilateral asymmetrical areas of T2‐weighted hyperintensity within the occipital, parietal, temporal, and frontal cortex, involving gray and white matter. Furthermore, linear T1W‐hyperintense lesions were found in the cerebral cortex of the same areas and showed heterogeneous contrast enhancement. Perfusion‐weighted images revealed hyperperfusion in the affected regions. Lesions were compatible with subacute CLN with corresponding edema suspected to be secondary to anesthesia‐related brain hypoxia. Three‐Tesla MRI enabled identification of the laminar pattern of the cortical lesions.

Brain MRI findings in a dog with late onset epileptic seizure after portosystemic shunt attenuation

“…Cerebrocortical necrosis and atrophy in dogs can be idiopathic or secondary to lead poisoning, cyanide poisoning, thiamine deficiency, cardiac arrest, hypoglycaemia, cranial trauma, seizures or as a component of potentially hereditary degenerative central nervous disease 23. Cortical cerebral necrosis can be caused by hypotension and consequently poor brain perfusion leading to cerebral cortex hypoxia and ischaemia 2 24. In human, hypoxia/ischaemia is a common cause of cortical necrosis with MRI findings localised at the frontal lobe, basal ganglia and lateral thalamus 25.…”

Striate Artery Infarct After Bilateral Carotid Artery Ligation (BCAL) in a Dog: A Multimodal MRI Study

“…Apparent diffusion coefficient maps were computed from DWI. MRA was acquired using time-of-flight and contrast-enhanced angiography; PWI was acquired using 3D pseudo continuous arterial spin labeling (3D pCASL) imaging sequence as previously reported (12). The conventional sequences revealed a well-defined lesion centered within the left caudate nucleus, extending ventrally, mildly laterally and rostrally and involved the basal nuclei (putamen and pallidum) as well as the internal capsule.…”

“…Apparent diffusion coefficient maps were computed from DWI. MRA was acquired using time-of-flight and contrast-enhanced angiography; PWI was acquired using 3D pseudo continuous arterial spin labeling (3D pCASL) imaging sequence as previously reported ( 12 ).…”

Brain perfusion magnetic resonance imaging using pseudocontinuous arterial spin labeling in 314 dogs and cats

“…In veterinary medicine, few publications have dealt with cerebral perfusion MRI, most of them describing dynamic studies that rely on IV injection of a gadolinium‐based contrast agent 32‐35 . To our knowledge, veterinary clinical application of ASL brain perfusion MRI has only been mentioned in 2 publications 36,37 . It was first introduced in veterinary medicine as a technique providing a weak MRI signal that can be influenced by several technical factors 36 .…”

“…It was first introduced in veterinary medicine as a technique providing a weak MRI signal that can be influenced by several technical factors 36 . One year later, an ASL protocol was implemented in a dog with suspected late subacute cortical laminar necrosis using a 3 Tesla MRI scanner 37 …”