Canine intraventricular pneumocephalus: a case report / Pneumoencéfalo intraventricular em cão: relato de caso

Pneumocephalus is a well described disease; it is commonly diagnosed in humans, but the condition is rarely encountered in veterinary medicine. Computed tomography (CT) is the gold-standard diagnostic method for identifying this disease, and other methods (such as necropsy) are rarely described. In this report, we describe necropsy findings of a 10-month-old, mixed-breed dog with intraventricular pneumocephalus. The dog was referred to Laboratory of Animal Pathology of the Federal University of Uberlândia, Brazil, for necropsy after being diagnosed with pneumocephalus upon CT. In the examination, the brain had dilation of both lateral ventricles with empty spaces. Histopathology showed congestion and mineralization only near the lateral ventricles, leading to the diagnosis of pneumocephalus based on the macroscopic findings. The animal also showed sinusitis characterized by nasal discharge and neutrophilic infiltration of nasal sinuses. However, bacterial culture was not conclusive because of contamination of the sample. This is therefore an important report that shows necropsy findings of intraventricular pneumocephalus, which is a rare condition in dogs. By documenting the necropsy findings, we hope to help veterinary pathologists, including those with limited access to diagnostic imaging.

Pneumoencéfalo é uma condição bem descrita e comumente diagnosticada em humanos, mas raramente encontrada na medicina veterinária. A tomografia computadorizada (TC) é o método diagnóstico padrão-ouro para identificar tal alteração, e outros métodos (como a necropsia) raramente são descritos. Neste relato, são apresentados os achados de necropsia de um cão sem raça definida de 10 meses de idade com pneumoencéfalo intraventricular. O cão foi encaminhado ao Laboratório de Patologia Animal da Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Brasil, para necropsia após ser diagnosticado com pneumoencéfalo na TC. No exame, o cérebro apresentava dilatação de ambos os ventrículos laterais com espaços vazios; à histopatologia, foram observadas congestão e mineralização próximas aos ventrículos laterais. Com isso foi estabelecido o diagnóstico de pneumoencéfalo, com base nos achados macroscópicos. O animal também apresentou sinusite caracterizada por secreção nasal e infiltração neutrofílica dos seios nasais. No entanto, a cultura bacteriana não foi conclusiva devido à contaminação da amostra. Este é, portanto, um importante relato que mostra achados de necropsia de pneumoencéfalo intraventricular, que é uma condição rara em cães. Ao documentar os achados da necropsia, esperamos ajudar os patologistas veterinários, incluindo aqueles com acesso limitado a técnicas de diagnóstico por imagem.

Ependimoma anaplásico em cão / Anaplasic ependymoma in a dog

Background: Anaplastic ependymoma is a rare primary intracranial neoplasm in dogs and cats, which originates fromependymal cells that line the ventricular system of the brain and spinal cord. Normally, this neoplasm occurs as a single,expansive mass that develops mainly in the lateral ventricles, and neurological changes are due to local tissue impairmentand peritumoral tissue compression. This article reports a case of anaplastic ependymoma in a dog treated at the VeterinaryHospital of the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS), emphasizing and describing the neurological signsand histopathology of this tumor.Case: This article reports the case of a 11-year-old mongrel dog with a history of butting its head against obstacles, ofcompulsive walking, and altered proprioception of the right side limbs. The condition evolved to positional strabismus ofthe left eye, left lateral deviation of the head, vertical nystagmus, decreased level of consciousness, and constant lateraldecubitus. Due to the suspicion of intracranial neoplasia and worsening of its clinical condition, the animal was euthanized. Necropsy of its body revealed a mass of approximately 3 cm in diameter in the third ventricle (in the left lateralregion). A histological examination revealed random clusters of ependymal cells with a few rosettes and pseudorosettes.The cells were cuboid to cylindrical in shape, with moderate eosinophilic cytoplasm with indistinct borders, and round tooval moderately hyperchromatic nuclei with 1-2 visible nucleoli. Based on these findings, the tumor was characterized asanaplastic ependymoma.Discussion: Intracranial tumors occur more frequently in older animals, and usually neurological signs tend to evolve progressively. Most affected dogs are mongrels, like the dog described in this report, but Golden Retrievers, Boxers, LabradorRetrievers...(AU)

Ependimoma anaplásico em cão / Anaplasic ependymoma in a dog

Background: Anaplastic ependymoma is a rare primary intracranial neoplasm in dogs and cats, which originates fromependymal cells that line the ventricular system of the brain and spinal cord. Normally, this neoplasm occurs as a single,expansive mass that develops mainly in the lateral ventricles, and neurological changes are due to local tissue impairmentand peritumoral tissue compression. This article reports a case of anaplastic ependymoma in a dog treated at the VeterinaryHospital of the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS), emphasizing and describing the neurological signsand histopathology of this tumor.Case: This article reports the case of a 11-year-old mongrel dog with a history of butting its head against obstacles, ofcompulsive walking, and altered proprioception of the right side limbs. The condition evolved to positional strabismus ofthe left eye, left lateral deviation of the head, vertical nystagmus, decreased level of consciousness, and constant lateraldecubitus. Due to the suspicion of intracranial neoplasia and worsening of its clinical condition, the animal was euthanized. Necropsy of its body revealed a mass of approximately 3 cm in diameter in the third ventricle (in the left lateralregion). A histological examination revealed random clusters of ependymal cells with a few rosettes and pseudorosettes.The cells were cuboid to cylindrical in shape, with moderate eosinophilic cytoplasm with indistinct borders, and round tooval moderately hyperchromatic nuclei with 1-2 visible nucleoli. Based on these findings, the tumor was characterized asanaplastic ependymoma.Discussion: Intracranial tumors occur more frequently in older animals, and usually neurological signs tend to evolve progressively. Most affected dogs are mongrels, like the dog described in this report, but Golden Retrievers, Boxers, LabradorRetrievers...