Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging findings in a dog with suspected intracerebral hemorrhage

A 1-year-old, intact female, mixed-breed dog (border collie and springer spaniel) was initially evaluated for lethargy, fever, and ataxia and subsequently evaluated 2.5 y later following the onset of seizures. Over a 3-year interval, the dog underwent 3 computed tomography (CT) and 1 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations. A voluminous hyperattenuating lesion with a mass effect, exhibiting weak postcontrast enhancement and associated with surrounding diffuse parenchymal hypoattenuation, was observed in the first CT examination (3 d after initial clinical signs). The second CT examination (11 d later) revealed a hypoattenuating lesion with ring postcontrast enhancement. A clear reduction of the size of the mass, which presented as hyperattenuating with a severely postcontrast-enhanced center, was noted in the third CT examination (2.5 y after initial clinical signs and 3 mo after onset of seizures). The MRI examination, performed 3 mo after the third CT examination, showed a small lesion, T2*-gradient echo hypointense, with no peripheral halo noted in T2-weighted fluid-attenuated inversion recovery and with serpentiform enhancement from within the lesion to the meningeal region. These sequential imaging findings were consistent with intracerebral hemorrhage. Key clinical message: To the authors' knowledge, this is the first case of hyperthermia associated with intracerebral hemorrhage in a dog, although this is a common finding in human medicine. An intracerebral hemorrhage should be included in the differential diagnosis of an intracerebral mass, and performing sequential imaging examinations can help clarify the diagnosis.