Magnetic resonance imaging and pathological characteristics of Cladophialophora encephalitis in a young dog

Abstract

A 1-year-old dog was presented for persistent neck pain and circling. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a large, space-occupying, intra-axial mass with extensive surrounding vasogenic oedema affecting the left thalamus and hippocampus. Postmortem histopathology of the brain lesion identified fungal hyphae with significant local brain reaction. Fungal sequencing confirmed Cladophialophora bantiana. Magnetic resonance imaging findings can look similar to other inflammatory processes or even neoplasia. While histopathology of the lesions may not always identify fungal hyphae, it will often confirm necrosis, pyogranulomatous inflammation and perivascular cuffing with lymphocytes. Cerebral phaeohyphomycosis should be included in the differential diagnosis list in a young dog with intracranial neurologic deficits.