Page 88 - Feline diagnostic imaging

6.2 ­iseases oo the Feline rain 85

(a) (b)

(c) (d)

Figure 6.9 Two cats with acromegaly. One cat was diagnosed with MRI. (a) T2*W image at the level of the pituitary gland (P) and (b)
T2W transverse image at the level of the frontal sinuses. The other cat was diagnosed using CT. (c) Postcontrast transverse image in a
soft tissue window at the level of the pituitary gland (P) and (d) transverse bone window at the level of the frontal sinuses. In both
cats, mild thickening of the frontal bone is present (arrows); it is greater and more evident in the CT images of the second cat.
A greater degree of mucosal thickening was also present in the cat diagnosed with MRI, characterized by the irregular and enhancing
tissue adjacent to the hypointense bone of the frontal sinuses (arrows, B). Source: Images courtesy of Dr Anthony Fischetti, Animal
Medical Center.

Extracranial neoplasia invasion into the calvarial vault soft tissue enlargements in the area of the calvarial vault,
should be another consideration in feline patients pre- but some will only present with neurologic signs [6,40].
senting with neurologic signs. This includes tumors aris- In veterinary medicine, CT is more commonly used to
ing from the nasal cavity (Figure 6.10) or the osseous or diagnose and evaluate extent of nasal disease with or
soft tissues around the remainder of the calvarial vault without intracranial extension, but MRI may provide
(Figure 6.11). These cats could have nasal signs (sneez- more specific details for staging purposes, similar to its
ing, nasal discharge or open‐mouth breathing) or focal use in humans [41]. In the author’s experience, more