Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Acrylic cranioplasty and axial pattern flap following calvarial and cerebral mass excision in a dog.
- Journal:
- Australian veterinary journal
- Year:
- 2002
- Authors:
- Mouatt, J G
- Affiliation:
- Department of Veterinary Clinic and Hospital · Australia
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 4 kg Chihuahua was brought to the vet because he was having seizures and had a large mass on the top of his head. This mass had come back after being removed twice before and was identified as a type of bone tumor called a multilobular osteochondroma. A CT scan showed that the mass was damaging the bones of the skull and pressing on the brain. The veterinarians performed surgery to remove the mass and the surrounding skin, which left a big gap where bone and skin were missing. They then used a special mesh and a type of plastic to cover the bone gap and placed a flap of skin over it to close the wound. The dog recovered well and looked good after the surgery, but the tumor did grow back in the brain area.
Abstract
A 4 kg Chihuahua was presented with seizures and a large mass on his dorsal cranium. The mass had regrown after two previous attempts to remove it. Histological examination had shown the mass to be a multilobular osteochondroma (osteochondrosarcoma). A CT scan revealed destruction of the dorsal cranial bones by the mass and compression of cerebral cortex. A craniotomy was performed to excise the mass and attached skin, leaving a large deficit of calvarial bone and skin. A cranioplasty was performed in situ, using polypropylene mesh and polymethyl methacrylate. A caudal auricular axial pattern flap was placed directly over the cranioplasty to fill the skin defect. This unusual reconstruction resulted in good recovery, function and cosmetic effect, although tumour regrowth was seen within the cerebral cortex.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12054283/