Presumed and confirmed striatocapsular brain infarctions in six dogs.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the clinical and diagnostic features of the canine sensorimotor syndrome caused by striatocapsular brain infarctions (SCI).


METHODS
Six dogs with diagnostic imaging or postmortem evidence of SCI.


METHODS
Medical records of dogs with SCI were retrospectively reviewed and the signalment, history, clinical signs, antemortem clinicopathologic test results, diagnostic imaging findings, case outcomes, and pathologic findings recorded.


RESULTS
All dogs had an acute onset of nonprogressive homonymous visual field deficits and contralateral general proprioceptive (GP) deficits. Contralateral hemiparesis and facial hypalgesia were noted in 5/6 dogs. CT scans were normal in 2/4 dogs, and revealed poorly defined hypoattenuating lesions in the subcortical white matter in two dogs. MRI exams were performed in 5/6 dogs and revealed unilateral, variably sized, striatocapsular lesions consistent with nonhemorrhagic infarctions. Diagnostic imaging (6/6) and postmortem examinations (2/6) suggested that SCI resulted from lesions in the vascular territories of the rostral choriodal (6/6) and lenticulostriate arteries (2/6). Diseases predisposing to infarction were not identified in 5/6 dogs. Improvements in mentation, behavior, proprioceptive deficits, and hemiparesis were seen in surviving dogs, but persistent, symptomatic sensory deficits were noted during the follow-up period.


CONCLUSIONS
SCI should be considered as a differential diagnosis for dogs with acute onset, nonprogressive homonymous hemianopia, contralateral GP deficits or hemiparesis, and facial hypalgesia. MRI is the preferred modality for the antemortem imaging diagnosis of SCI. Although partial recovery occurred in all surviving dogs, visual and facial sensory disturbances persisted.
Rossmeisl
John H
JH
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA. jrossmei@vt.edu
Rohleder
Jacob J
JJ
Pickett
J Phillip
JP
Duncan
Robert
R
Herring
Ian P
IP
D000818:Animals; D020520:Brain Infarction / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000473:pathology*; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological / Q000662:veterinary; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D020772:Internal Capsule / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D011996:Records / Q000662:veterinary; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000662:veterinary; D014768:Virginia / Q000453:epidemiology; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary