title: Magnetic resonance imaging characteristics of equine head disorders: 84 cases (2000-2013).
abstract: The equine head is an anatomically complex area, therefore advanced tomographic imaging techniques, such as computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), are often required for diagnosis and treatment planning. The purpose of this multicenter retrospective study was to describe MRI characteristics for a large sample of horses with head disorders. Horses imaged over a period of 13 years were recruited. Eighty-four horses met the inclusion criteria, having neurological (n = 65), sinonasal (n = 14), and soft tissue (n = 5) disorders. Magnetic resonance imaging accurately depicted the anatomy and allowed identification of the primary lesion and associated changes. There were good correlations between MRI findings and intraoperative or postmortem results. Magnetic resonance imaging showed the exact localization of the lesions, their size, and relation to surrounding structures. However, in the neurological group, there were 45 horses with no MRI abnormalities, 29 of which had a history of recurrent seizures, related to cryptogenic epilepsy. Magnetic resonance imaging was otherwise a valuable diagnostic tool, and can be used for studying a broad range of head disorders using either low-field or high-field magnets.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Avda. Puerta de Hierro s/n, 28040-Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Manso-Díaz
authors.forename: Sue J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Dyson
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dennis
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: García-López
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Biggi
authors.forename: M Isabel
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: García-Real
authors.forename: Fidel
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: San Román
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Taeymans
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000662:veterinary*; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000662:veterinary; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000662:veterinary; D003287:Contrast Media; D004677:Encephalocele / Q000662:veterinary; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006736:Horses; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D020547:Lateral Ventricles / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D009668:Nose Diseases / Q000662:veterinary; D009901:Optic Nerve Diseases / Q000662:veterinary; D010254:Paranasal Sinus Diseases / Q000662:veterinary; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012640:Seizures / Q000662:veterinary; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media
keywords: brain; horse MRI; sinusitis; skull