title: Presumptive subdural empyema in a dog.
abstract: A 13 mo old mixed-breed dog was referred for acute lateralized forebrain signs. MRI of the brain demonstrated abnormalities consistent with severe meningitis and subdural empyema secondary to a retrobulbar abscess. The dog's clinical signs improved with antibiotic therapy, and repeat imaging showed resolution of subdural fluid accumulation presumed to be empyema with mild residual meningeal enhancement. Subdural empyema is an infrequent cause of encephalopathy in small animals and usually develops through direct extension of a pericranial infection. This report presents a case of presumptive subdural empyema in a dog that was successfully treated without surgical intervention. MRI is the preferred imaging modality for diagnosis of subdural empyema, and the characteristic imaging features are described.
authors.affiliation: Animal Eye Center, Rocklin, CA (T.H.); Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center, Pittsburgh, PA (E.M.); and PetRays Veterinary Radiology Consultants, The Woodlands, TX (A.B.).
authors.forename: Taemi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Horikawa
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: MacKillop
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bahr
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001922:Brain Abscess / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D013354:Empyema, Subdural / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents