Computed tomography-guided brain biopsy for in vivo diagnosis of a cholesterinic granuloma in a horse.
Abstract: An 8-year-old warmblood mare was evaluated following an acute onset of neurologic abnormalities. Results: Computed tomography of the head revealed large masses in both lateral ventricles, and a presumptive diagnosis of cholesterinic granuloma was made. Results: Freehand biopsy of the intracranial masses was performed under computed tomographic guidance, and histologic examination of biopsy specimens confirmed the diagnosis. No adverse effects associated with the brain biopsy procedure were encountered. Clinical signs resolved, and long-term follow-up did not reveal any recurrence of neurologic deficits. The horse was able to return to its previous level of training. Conclusions: Findings suggested that computed tomographic-guided brain biopsy is feasible in horses and can be used to establish a diagnosis in horses with intracranial masses.
Publication Date: 2008-09-18 PubMed ID: 18795858DOI: 10.2460/javma.233.6.950Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The study reports on a successful diagnosis and treatment of a horse suffering from neurological abnormalities, attributed to large masses in the brain. The diagnosis was achieved using a computed tomography-guided brain biopsy, and the horse’s condition significantly improved post-procedure, with no recurring signs of illness.
Introduction to the Situation
- The subject of the study was an 8-year-old warmblood mare that showed sudden neurological abnormalities.
Initial Diagnostic Measures
- A computed tomography (CT) scan of the horse’s head was conducted, which revealed large masses in both lateral ventricles of the brain.
- Based on these findings, the initial medical conclusion was that the mare suffered from cholesterinic granuloma, a type of non-cancerous cyst filled with cholesterol crystals.
Subsequent Diagnostic Measures
- To confirm the presumptive diagnosis, a freehand biopsy was performed on the brain masses, guided by computed tomography for accuracy and safety.
- Biopsy specimens were taken from the intracranial (within the skull) masses for a histologic examination, a study of their microscopic structure.
- The histologic study confirmed the original diagnosis of the cholesterinic granuloma.
Post-Diagnosis Procedures and Observations
- The clinical procedure did not cause any adverse effects, suggesting that a CT-guided brain biopsy can be safely performed in horses.
- The horse’s previously noticed neurological signs resolved after the biopsy.
- The horse exhibited no reappearance of the neurological deficits in a long-term follow-up, demonstrating the effectiveness of the treatment.
- Significantly, the horse was able to return to its previous training level, indicating a full recovery.
Conclusions of the Study
- The research findings underline that computed tomographic-guided brain biopsy can indeed be employed fruitfully in horses to diagnose intracranial masses.
- Such a non-invasive technique can help improve the diagnosis and treatment efficiency for large animals, ushering in new opportunities in veterinary neurology.
Cite This Article
APA
Vanschandevijl K, Gielen I, Nollet H, Vlaminck L, Deprez P, van Bree H.
(2008).
Computed tomography-guided brain biopsy for in vivo diagnosis of a cholesterinic granuloma in a horse.
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 233(6), 950-954.
https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.233.6.950 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Large Animal Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, Merelbeke, Belgium.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Brain Diseases / diagnosis
- Brain Diseases / diagnostic imaging
- Brain Diseases / pathology
- Brain Diseases / veterinary
- Cholesteatoma / diagnosis
- Cholesteatoma / diagnostic imaging
- Cholesteatoma / pathology
- Cholesteatoma / veterinary
- Cholesterol / metabolism
- Choroid Plexus / diagnostic imaging
- Choroid Plexus / pathology
- Female
- Granuloma, Foreign-Body / diagnosis
- Granuloma, Foreign-Body / diagnostic imaging
- Granuloma, Foreign-Body / pathology
- Granuloma, Foreign-Body / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horse Diseases / radiotherapy
- Horses
- Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods
- Tomography, X-Ray Computed / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- Santistevan L, Easley J, Ruple A, Monck S, Randall E, Wininger F, Packer RA. A pilot study of optical neuronavigation-guided brain biopsy in the horse using anatomic landmarks and fiducial arrays for patient registration. J Vet Intern Med 2020 Jul;34(4):1642-1649.
- Lloyd-Edwards RA, Willems DS, Beukers M, van den Brom-Spierenburg A, Vernooij JCM, Veraa S. Presumed cholesterinic granulomas detected on CT in horses are associated with increased lateral ventricle height and age. Vet Radiol Ultrasound 2020 May;61(3):269-278.
- Carmalt JL, Scansen BA. Development of two surgical approaches to the pituitary gland in the Horse. Vet Q 2018 Dec;38(1):21-27.
- Crijns CP, Baeumlin Y, De Rycke L, Broeckx BJ, Vlaminck L, Bergman EH, van Bree H, Gielen I. Intra-arterial versus intra venous contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the equine head. BMC Vet Res 2016 Jan 7;12:6.
- Frey K, Perlini M, Reed R. Time Attenuation Curves for Equine Intravenous Contrast Enhanced Skull CT Using the Medial Saphenous and Cephalic Veins. Vet Radiol Ultrasound 2026 Jan;67(1):e70115.
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