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Imaging diagnosis: chronic unilateral trigeminal neuropathy masquerading as a trigeminal peripheral nerve tumour on MRI in a dog
Author(s) -
Coia Mark,
Guevar Julien,
Penderis Jacques,
Hammond Gawain
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
veterinary record case reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.165
H-Index - 4
ISSN - 2052-6121
DOI - 10.1136/vetreccr-2016-000358
Subject(s) - medicine , trigeminal nerve , neuritis , masticatory force , atrophy , lesion , differential diagnosis , anatomy , magnetic resonance imaging , pathology , radiology , surgery , orthodontics
A seven‐year‐old crossbred dog presented with chronic, progressive left unilateral masticatory muscle atrophy. The neurolocalisation was to the left mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve. MRI identified thickening of the left trigeminal nerve root, which was isointense to grey matter on T1‐weighted and T2‐weighted images and displayed contrast enhancement. The masticatory muscles (temporalis muscle) ipsilateral to the trigeminal neuropathy (left‐sided) demonstrated contrast enhancement. Although a peripheral nerve sheath tumour was initially suspected, the lesion had largely resolved on repeated investigations after four months, supportive of a presumed diagnosis of trigeminal neuritis. Although unusual, unilateral trigeminal neuritis should be considered as a differential diagnosis, despite a progressive and chronic clinical course.