Abstract
Introduction/Purpose
Otitis media (OM) is a rare but clinical debilitating disease in horses. Clinical signs may include head shaking, head tilt, vestibular and facial nerve dysfunction. Aims of this study are description of CT and clinical findings of equine OM.
Methods
Medical and imaging archives were searched for equine CT head studies with evidence of tympanic bullae containing fluid or soft tissue. Age, gender, breed, clinical signs were recorded. CT imaging criteria relating to ear disease were reviewed and recorded by a board-certified radiologist.
Results
490 CT equine head studies were reviewed, and six horses met the inclusion criteria. In 6/6 cases the middle ear effusion was unilateral; 2/6 showed a lytic tympanic bulla wall, 1/6 showed periosteal reaction of the temporohyoid joint and stylohyoid bone and 1/6 showed loss of normal cochlea bony outlined. Brain contrast enhancement was seen in 1/6 horse. 4/6 cases had a normal external ear canal and wall. 2/6 cases had complete occlusion of the ear canal lumen and 1/ 2 had a thickened ear canal wall. In 3/6 cases, there were no associated clinical signs whilst in the other 3 cases clinical signs of OM were present. In 2 cases with follow-up, signs of OM persisted despite aggressive medical treatment.
Discussion/Conclusion
Middle ear effusion is uncommon in horses and usually unilateral. CT features include fluid-filled tympanic bullae with lysis. Middle ear effusion is easy to recognise on CT and may correlate with clinical findings of OM.
Otitis media (OM) is a rare but clinical debilitating disease in horses. Clinical signs may include head shaking, head tilt, vestibular and facial nerve dysfunction. Aims of this study are description of CT and clinical findings of equine OM.
Methods
Medical and imaging archives were searched for equine CT head studies with evidence of tympanic bullae containing fluid or soft tissue. Age, gender, breed, clinical signs were recorded. CT imaging criteria relating to ear disease were reviewed and recorded by a board-certified radiologist.
Results
490 CT equine head studies were reviewed, and six horses met the inclusion criteria. In 6/6 cases the middle ear effusion was unilateral; 2/6 showed a lytic tympanic bulla wall, 1/6 showed periosteal reaction of the temporohyoid joint and stylohyoid bone and 1/6 showed loss of normal cochlea bony outlined. Brain contrast enhancement was seen in 1/6 horse. 4/6 cases had a normal external ear canal and wall. 2/6 cases had complete occlusion of the ear canal lumen and 1/ 2 had a thickened ear canal wall. In 3/6 cases, there were no associated clinical signs whilst in the other 3 cases clinical signs of OM were present. In 2 cases with follow-up, signs of OM persisted despite aggressive medical treatment.
Discussion/Conclusion
Middle ear effusion is uncommon in horses and usually unilateral. CT features include fluid-filled tympanic bullae with lysis. Middle ear effusion is easy to recognise on CT and may correlate with clinical findings of OM.
| Original language | English |
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| Pages | 76 |
| Publication status | Published - 18 Jun 2023 |
| Event | International Veterinary Radiology Association / European Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging Joint Scientific Conference - University College, Dublin, Ireland Duration: 18 Jun 2023 → 23 Jun 2023 |
Conference
| Conference | International Veterinary Radiology Association / European Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging Joint Scientific Conference |
|---|---|
| Abbreviated title | IVRA/EVDI Joint Scientific Conference |
| Country/Territory | Ireland |
| City | Dublin |
| Period | 18/06/23 → 23/06/23 |