title: Cavernous sinus syndrome in a Holstein bull.
abstract: A 13-month-old Holstein bull was presented for right-sided exophthalmos. Ophthalmologic examination noted that the animal was visual in both eyes, but that the right pupil was persistently dilated and very sluggish to constrict when stimulated with a bright light and that normal ocular motility was absent. Fundic examination of the right eye was normal as was a complete ophthalmologic examination of the left eye. Radiographs at presentation did not reveal the presence of sinusitis or other skull abnormalities. Initial treatment comprised intravenous antibiotics and anti-inflammatories for orbital inflammation over a 14-day period. There was no perceptible change in the appearance or neuro-ophthalmologic examination of the right eye during hospitalization. The animal was discharged to the owner's care, but 3 weeks later was found recumbent with unilateral strabismus of the left eye and a fixed right pupil. Due to the inability to rise and rapid deterioration, humane euthanasia was performed, and a full postmortem examination, preceded by a MRI, was performed that identified abscesses extending bilaterally through the round foramina obliterating the cavernous sinus region, as well as abscessation of the right mandible, right trigeminal neuritis, right-sided sinusitis, and right-sided otitis media. Cavernous sinus syndrome should be considered in cattle with a combination of exophthalmos and neuro-ophthalmologic abnormalities involving cranial nerves III, IV, V, and VI, whose branches are located within the cavernous sinus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, 2015 Linden Drive West, Madison, WI, 53706, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Jacob
authors.forename: Randi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Drees
authors.forename: Marie E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Pinkerton
authors.forename: Ellison M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Bentley
authors.forename: Simon F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Peek
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001922:Brain Abscess / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D002426:Cavernous Sinus / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D013577:Syndrome
keywords: abscessation; bull; cavernous sinus syndrome; exophthalmos; opthalmoplegia; ptosis