Page 129 - Atlas of Small Animal CT and MRI

Oral Cavity 119

Figure 1.9.8 Sublingual Abscess with Extension to Pharynx and Meninges (Canine) MR

(a) T2, TP (b) T1, TP (c) T1+C+FS, TP

(d) T1+C, SP (e) T1+C+FS, TP (f) T1+C+FS, TP
6y MC Labrador Retriever with lethargy and difficulty prehending food. Images a–c are at the same anatomic level near the base of the
tongue. Images e and f are further caudal and are ordered from rostral to caudal. A fluid‐filled, cavitary sublingual mass is seen that is
T1 hypointense, T2 hyperintense, and peripherally contrast enhancing (a–d: arrow). The tongue is otherwise normal in appearance,
having a T1 and T2 hyperintense center of intrinsic musculature and adipose tissue surrounded by a low‐intensity peripheral layer
(a,b: arrowhead). Diffuse contrast enhancement is present surrounding the oropharynx, the left epihyoid bone (e: arrow), and the longus
capitus muscles (f: arrows). Marked meningeal enhancement is also evident ventral to the brainstem (d–f: arrowhead), indicating
intracranial extension, presumably through one of the foramina of the skull base. Lingual biopsy revealed severe neutrophilic and
necrotizing glossitis with abscessation, likely due to a migrating plant awn foreign body. Cerebrospinal fluid cytology revealed marked
suppurative inflammation.

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