Diagnosis of severe traumatic brain injury using multimodal imaging in a donkey

Abstract

A 6-month-old donkey presented with recumbency after rearing and falling over. A presumptive diagnosis of traumatic brain injury secondary to a skull fracture was made following the clinical examination, although a fracture could not be identified on radiography. To provide a definitive diagnosis, for planning any surgical intervention and to obtain prognostic information, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging were performed. An occipital depression skull fracture with secondary haemorrhage and oedema of the cerebellum and brainstem were identified. The imaging findings were confirmed at pathological examination. This report describes the imaging features of a traumatic brain injury in a donkey.

Thoracic cavity of the Shirazi cats: New insights using computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging

“…Furthermore, we found the caudal vena cava within the plica vena cava coursing through the diaphragm, passing between the caudal and accessory lobes of the right lung, and finally joining the caudal surface of the right atrium. These findings agree with Dyce et al (2010) and Johnson et al (2008).…”

“…Our intent in the present study was mainly to offer a novel result from the screening views of bone and soft windows CT and MRI with the viewing opportunities available in the imaging system. Our study agrees with (Johnson et al, 2008) that radiographs proved a substantial clarification of the components of the thoracic cage but fairly outlined the topography of organs and vascular structures.…”

“…As reported elsewhere, we found the pulmonary trunk in all cats to originate from the right ventricle, be on the left side of the heart base, curve dorsally and caudally, and be divided into the right and left pulmonary arteries. The cranial vena cava was formed near the thoracic inlet ventral to the trachea and brachiocephalic trunk by right and left brachiocephalic veins, and an azygous vein formed near its junction with the right atrium (Dyce et al, 2010;Johnson et al, 2008). Furthermore, we found the caudal vena cava within the plica vena cava coursing through the diaphragm, passing between the caudal and accessory lobes of the right lung, and finally joining the caudal surface of the right atrium.…”

“…Conventional radiology film is still the mainstay of thoracic imaging. However, the observations obtained are limited to lateral, dorsoventral and ventrodorsal projections (Guglielmini & Diana, 2015;Johnson et al, 2008). Since thoracic CT was introduced in veterinary medicine (Burk, 1991), it has become widely accepted as a specialized imaging modality.…”

Donkey Internal Medicine—Part II: Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Neurologic, Urinary, Ophthalmic, Dermatology, and Musculoskeletal Disorders

“…Intravertebral and intervertebral ratios and measurements (useful for the diagnosis of this disease) are undescribed in this species as well. Normal cranial CT or MRI image descriptions are also lacking, and only one case report has described CT and MRI findings in a donkey with severe brain trauma [65]. On the other hand, although only for miniature donkeys [66], reference values for cerebrospinal fluid parameters have been established.…”