title: Magnetic resonance imaging features of esthesioneuroblastoma in three dogs and one cat.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Esthesioneuroblastoma is a rare malignant intranasal tumor that originates from the olfactory neuroepithelium of the upper nasal cavity, and can destroy the cribriform plate and expand into the neurocranium. Descriptions of the magnetic resonance features of esthesioneuroblastomas in animals are scarce. The objectives of this study were to report the magnetic resonance imaging features of esthesioneuroblastomas in order to determine distinct imaging characteristics that may help distinguish it from other intracranial tumor types.
  
  
  METHODS
  Magnetic resonance images of four patients with confirmed esthesioneuroblastomas were reviewed and compared with previously reported cases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The esthesioneuroblastomas appeared as oval-shaped, solitary lesions in the caudal nasal cavity that caused osteolysis of the cribriform plate and extended into the brain in all cases. Signal intensity was variable. Contrast enhancement was mild and varied from homogeneous to heterogeneous. A peripheral cystic component was found in two patients and was reported in only one previous case. Mass effect and white matter edema were marked to severe. Osteolysis of facial bones and extension into the facial soft tissues or retrobulbar space were not present in any of the cases, although this has been reported in the literature.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A definitive diagnosis of esthesioneuroblastoma based on signal intensity or contrast behavior was not possible. Nevertheless, the presence of a mass in the caudal nasal cavity with extension into the neurocranium seems to be a feature highly suspicious of esthesioneuroblastoma. In contrast to other extra-cranial lesions, the extra-cranial mass was relatively small and destruction of facial bones seems to be rare.
authors.affiliation: Charlotte Söffler, Klinik für Kleintiere der Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen, Frankfurter Straße 108, 35392 Gießen, Germany, Email: charlotte.soeffler@gmx.de.
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Söffler
authors.forename: Antje
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hartmann
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gorgas
authors.forename: Eberhard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ludewig
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: von Pückler
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kramer
authors.forename: Martin J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Schmidt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002415:Cats; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004285:Dogs; D018304:Esthesioneuroblastoma, Olfactory / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000662:veterinary; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009669:Nose Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary*
keywords: MRI; Olfactory neuroblastoma; cat; dog; intracranial tumor