A quadrigeminal arachnoid cyst as a cause of neurological symptoms in an 11-month-old Brussels Griffon - A case study

• Published in: Veterinarni medicina Vol. 68; no. 8; pp. 343 - 348
• Main Authors: Mieszkowska, Marta, Michalska, Korina, Mieszkowski, Marcin, Dowgierd, Michalina, Zhalniarovich, Yauheni
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: 01.08.2023
• ISSN: 0375-8427
• DOI: 10.17221/53/2023-VETMED

An intracranial arachnoid cyst (IAC) is a rare developmental disorder that is consistent with cerebrospinal fluid accumulation between the brain and the arachnoid membrane. A quadrigeminal cyst is a specific type of cyst that is identified based on its localization. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report on this type of pathology in a Brussels Griffon. This case study describes an 11-month-old female Brussels Griffon with symptoms of reluctance to lower the head and eat from a bowl placed on the ground, combined with episodes of vocalization. The patient was subsequently diagnosed with a quadrigeminal cyst during a low-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exam, and she tested positive for toxoplasmosis in the blood test. Arachnoid cysts are often described as incidental findings, but the characteristics of neurological symptoms in the presented patient suggest that the cyst was clinically significant. The currently known options of pharmacological and surgical treatment give some hope for symptomatic patients, although their definitive success rate is not yet fully known.