Positron emission tomography features of canine necrotizing meningoencephalitis

Vet Radiol Ultrasound. 2008 Nov-Dec;49(6):595-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1740-8261.2008.00437.x.

Abstract

A Yorkshire terrier and a Chihuahua were referred for acute onset, generalized tonic-clonic seizures and were suspected to have meningoencephalitis based on magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings. Brain lesions appeared hyperintense with T2-weighted imaging and hypointense with T1-weighted imaging, and were characteristic of necrotizing meningoencephalitis. Both dogs were diagnosed with necrotizing meningoencephalitis based on pathologic findings. Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) was performed on both animals before euthanasia with the permission of the owner. In FDG-PET images, these lesions seen in MR images were characterized by multifocal or diffuse hypometabolism. Our FDG-PET results provided evidence of glucose hypometabolism in areas of necrosis and cavitation associated with necrotizing meningoencephalitis. FDG-PET has the potential to provide valuable diagnostic information in dogs with suspected necrotizing encephalitis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain / pathology
  • Dog Diseases / diagnostic imaging*
  • Dog Diseases / pathology
  • Dogs
  • Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic / diagnostic imaging
  • Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic / pathology
  • Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic / veterinary*
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Meningoencephalitis / diagnostic imaging
  • Meningoencephalitis / pathology
  • Meningoencephalitis / veterinary*
  • Positron-Emission Tomography / methods
  • Positron-Emission Tomography / veterinary*