Imaging findings and outcomes after traumatic cerebellar injury: a canine case report

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a structural injury or physiological disruption of the brain induced by an external force. The cerebellum facilitates movement coordination and provides a sense of equilibrium; damage to this structure can cause a wide variety of symptoms, including ataxia or dystaxia, ocular motor dysfunction, and disequilibrium. TBIs localised to the cerebellum are rare in dogs, and the prognosis following this type of injury remains unclear.

A 10-year-old female Chihuahua/Dachshund-cross dog weighing 2.8 kg presented after a fall of approximately 1 m the preceding night. The dog exhibited paresis of all limbs and was recumbent with constant extensor rigidity with opisthotonos. The bilateral thoracic limb and right pelvic limb spinal reflexes were exaggerated, while the left pelvic limb spinal reflexes were normal. The menace response was decreased, and vertical nystagmus was observed. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a hyperintense lesion on T2weighted (W) images, fluid-attenuated inversion recovery, and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). Mannitol and prednisolone were administered, and the dog recovered. The bilateral pelvic limb postural reactions improved by Day 16. On Day 22, MRI revealed a decrease in the hyperintense area of the T2W images, and this lesion appeared isointense on DWI.

In this case report, a dog with localised injury to the cerebellum that comprised a post-tentorial lesion recovered with a favourable outcome. Moreover, similar to reports in humans, DWI can help diagnose and evaluate TBI in dogs.