Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Normal and Diseased Feline Middle Ear

Abstract

The magnetic resonance imaging appearance of the feline middle ear is described in three healthy cats and in five cats with middle ear disease. Owing to the good spatial resolution, multiplanar slice orientation as well as display high contrast resolution of soft tissue, in particular fluids, MR imaging was helpful prior to surgery. It is superior to radiography which failed to allow identification of the abnormality in two of our five cats. MR imaging for middle ear disease should include dorsal and transverse plane images using T1- and T2-weighted sequences. In the presence of a mass within the bulla or the external ear canal application of contrast medium is helpful.

Low-field magnetic resonance imaging of otitis media in two cats: a case report

“…The peripheral vestibular symptoms are hidden as long as inflammation affects the internal ear (Remedios et al 1991). Because of the absence of obvious changes, radiography is not helpful in the early diagnosis of middle ear diseases (Allgoewer et al 2000). Computed tomography is more useful in identification of bony components, whereas MRI allows better identification of soft tissues, nerves, vessels and labyrinthine fluid (Garosi et al 2003).…”

“…The otitis of the middle ear is usually problematic for diagnosis (Allgoewer et al 2000). The peripheral vestibular symptoms are hidden as long as inflammation affects the internal ear (Remedios et al 1991).…”

“…There is a limited number of reports on the usefulness of MRI in the diagnosis of feline ear diseases (Allgoewer et al 2000;Mellema et al 2002;Garosi et al 2003;Sturges et al 2006). The otitis of the middle ear is usually problematic for diagnosis (Allgoewer et al 2000).…”

“…Computed tomography is a precise imaging modality for diagnosis of doi: 10.17221/94/2016-VETMED otitis media, but is limited in its ability to exclude otitis interna or some masses affecting the vestibulocochlear nerve (Kneissl et al 2004). Low-field MRI reports for otitis media in dogs exist, but in cats detailed information is missing (Allgoewer et al 2000;Dvir et al 2000;Kneissl et al 2004). This paper describes the MRI findings in two cats with otitis media and includes a protocol for feline ear examination using low-field magnetic resonance.…”

Gross anatomy and arterial vascularization of the tympanic cavity and osseous labyrinth in mid‐gestational bovine fetuses

“…Some of the studies regarding ear morphology of animals were carried out to reveal functional roles of ear especially in fossorial rodents (Lange et al, 2004;Lange and Burda, 2005;Mason, 2006), and some other studies (Pracy et al, 1998;Seibel et al, 2006a;Borin et al, 2008) made morphological comparisons to humans. To understand the anatomic problems and vascular diseases, certain techniques like radiography, ultrasonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance were applied to animals as well, and carnivores (e.g., cats, dogs) were frequently used for this purpose (Allgoewer et al, 2000;Russo et al, 2002;Eom et al, 2008).…”