title: Computed tomographic features of skull osteomyelitis in four young dogs.
abstract: Computed tomography (CT) features of four immature to young adult dogs with osteomyelitis of the skull are described. Trauma or bite wounds were the cause of infection and Staphylococcus aureus was the most common pathogen. CT features were a combination of soft tissue thickening, bone lysis, and bone proliferation. Bone lysis was extensive in some dogs with a moth-eaten appearance and involved the calvarium, base of the skull, the frontal sinuses, and the temporomandibular joint. In other dogs it was more focal with thinning of the bone rather than complete lysis. Bone proliferation also varied in appearance from irregular palisading or spiculated to expansion and septation of the frontal bone. Sequestrum formation was seen in one dog. Widespread infection in one dog involved the tympanic bullae and the temporomandibular joint. Lysis of the calvarium resulted in bacterial meningitis in two dogs. One dog was euthanized and three were treated with surgical curettage of the affected bone and antibiotic therapy which resulted in resolution of the clinical signs in one dog whereas two dogs had recurrent disease. CT was very helpful for characterizing extent and localization of the infection. Despite the aggressive CT features, osteomyelitis should be considered especially in young animals with a history of trauma or bite wounds. The pathophysiology of skull bone infections is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Studies-Philadelphia, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3900 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6010, USA. gseiler@vet.upenn.edu
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Seiler
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vignoli
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cianciolo
authors.forename: Tiffany
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Scanlon
authors.forename: Urs
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Giger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012886:Skull; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000662:veterinary