Computed tomography findings in portal vein aneurysm of dogs

Anomalies of the Portal Venous System in Dogs and Cats as Seen on Multidetector-Row Computed Tomography: An Overview and Systematization Proposal

This article offers an overview of congenital and acquired vascular anomalies involving the portal venous system in dogs and cats, as determined by multidetector-row computed tomography angiography. Congenital absence of the portal vein, portal vein hypoplasia, portal vein thrombosis and portal collaterals are described. Portal collaterals are further discussed as high- and low-flow connections and categorized in hepatic arterioportal malformation, arteriovenous fistula, end-to-side and side-to-side congenital portosystemic shunts, acquired portosystemic shunts, cavoportal and porto-portal collaterals. Knowledge of different portal system anomalies helps understand the underlying physiopathological mechanism and is essential for surgical and interventional approaches.

Incidental Intracranial Aneurysm in a Dog Detected by 16-Multidetector Row Computed Tomography Angiography

This paper describes a small intracranial aneurysm incidentally found in a 24-month-old Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever evaluated for a recent history of lethargy, fever, and cervical pain. The clinicopathological analysis revealed leukocytosis, and increased haptoglobin and C-reactive protein consistent with severe flogistic process. Nonenhanced computed tomography of the brain and cervical spine showed a diffuse encephalopathy and moderate cervical syringohydromyelia. Computed tomography angiography series of the brain showed a small saccular dilation at the joining point of the two rostral cerebral arteries consistent with a small aneurysm. Cerebrospinal fluid examination led to the final diagnosis of aseptic meningitis. The dog was discharge with a long-term corticosteroid therapy for the meningitis. At two-month follow-up evaluation, the cerebrospinal fluid examination was normal and the computed tomography of the brain showed no abnormalities except for the stable aneurysm. To our knowledge, this is the first description of a spontaneous cerebral aneurysm in dogs and serves to broaden the spectrum of cerebrovascular diseases in this species.