Case Study

CT – Idiopathic epilepsy and destructive rhinitis in a 10 year old MN DSH cat with seizures

This 10 year old MN DSH cat has a long history of tremors and seizures. Ataxia and head tilt for years.

DX

The findings are consistent with chronic mildly destructive rhinitis. No pathological findings of the brain

Image Interpretation

CT of the head –

Both nasal cavities as well as both sphenoidal recesses, are filled with a moderate amount of non-gravity dependent hypoattenuating, non-contrast enhancing material. The mucosal lining of both nasal cavities is moderately thickened but smooth. The nasal septum shows a moderate left sided deviation. Mild loss of turbinate structures is noted in the rostral third of both nasal cavities. The brain presents no deviation from normal anatomy and symmetry.

Outcome

The causative
agent is most likely a chronic cat-flu. Both tympanic bullae are aerated and there is no
evidence of otitis media, which would be one potential underlying cause of the head
tilt. The changes of the retropharyngeal lymph nodes are consistent with secondary
reactive lymphadenitis due to the rhinitis.
In the present study of the brain there is no evidence of macromorphologic disease,
which supports the presumptive diagnosis of idiopathic epilepsy. If not yet done so the workup should be complemented by examination of CSF
(including PCR for coronavirus) and complete bloodwork to screen for brain disease
that is not necessarily associated with structural changes of the brain parenchyma.