Anomolous

Question 1

Examples

Answer 1

• hydrocephalus
  – congenital
  – acquired
• porencephaly
• cerebellar malformation

Question 2

What is hydrocephalus? What does this lead to?

Answer 2

• high pressure expansion of the ventricular system in the brain
• high pressure expansion will result in compression of the adjacent brain parenchyma, and over time, in secondary pressure necrosis

Question 3

What is ventriculomegaly?

Answer 3

• low pressure large ventricles which is usually secondary to loss of brain parenchyma for some other reason, which may include an episode of hydrocephalus
• it is usually an incidental finding

Question 4

Presentation of hydrocephalus

Answer 4

• progressive forebrain compromise, i.e. altered behaviour and mentation +/- seizures

Question 5

Congenital hydrocephalus - what are they often associated with? Breeds commonly affected? Diagnosis?

Answer 5

• often associated with enlarged head with open fontanelles -> option for diagnosis of ventricular enlargement with US through fontanelle
• may not be associated with head swelling, but occurs more commonly in dome headed breeds (e.g. Chihuahua, Boston terrier)
• diagnosis on advanced imaging (MRI) that shows ventriculomegaly and periventricular parenchymal changes to support high pressure

Question 6

Congenital hydrocephalus - treatment options

Answer 6

• conservative: corticosteroids (to reduce CSF production) can be helpful in some cases
• surgical: ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement (not 1st opinion) can be useful but complications

Question 7

Acquired hydrocephalus - what can it be secondary to? Therefore, what therapy may it respond to?

Answer 7

• can be secondary to inflammatory disease, so may respond to corticosteroid therapy

Question 8

Acquired hydrocephalus - what must you do?

Answer 8

• identify a cause

Question 9

Acquired hydrocephalus - diagnosis

Answer 9

• advanced imaging (MRI) that shows ventriculomegaly and periventricular parenchymal changes to support high pressure

Question 10

Acquired hydrocephalus - tx

Answer 10

• depends on aetiology
• corticosteroids can reduce CSF production

Question 11

What is porencephaly?

Answer 11

• congenital absence of cerebral cortex tissue unilaterally
• rare and usually an incidental finding

Question 12

What is congenital cerebellar dysfunction seen secondary to? CS? prevalence?

Answer 12

• in kittens secondary to in-utero feline panleukopaenia infection
• generalised hypermetria and head intention tremor of a whole litter of kittens
• non-progressive and non-fatal
• rare but consider in non-vaccinated queens, very easy clinical diagnosis when whole litter affected