Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings of Intracranial Tumors in Dogs: A Review of 26 Cases

Abstract

The aim of this study was to report the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of intracranial tumors in 26 dogs. The medical records of dogs admitted to the Department of Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ankara University for central nervous system disorders were reviewed, and dogs with intracranial tumors that were diagnosed with MRI between November 1997 and June 2006 were included in the study. MR images were obtained as T1 weighted (T1W), T2 weighted (T2W), and contrast enhanced T1 weighted (following Gd-DTPA administration) in the transverse, coronal (dorsal), and sagittal planes. The following features were evaluated in order to characterize the lesions and to establish diagnoses based on radiological findings: site of origin, anatomic location, signal characteristics on T1W and T2W images, contrast enhancement, shape and size, number (multiple or single), and presence of edema and midline shift. The radiological diagnoses were as follows: intracranially invading sinus tumor (n = 3), meningioma (n = 7), choroid plexus tumor or ependymoma (n = 3), ependymoma (n = 1), glioma (n = 5), metastatic tumor (n = 3), astrocytoma (n = 1), astrocytoma or metastasis (n = 1), cavernoma (n = 1), and hypophyseal adenoma (n = 1). In conclusion, lesions occupying the intracranial space can be accurately diagnosed and tumor type can be predicted with MRI.