systematic-assessment-mammalian-skull-specimens-for-dental

Systematic Assessment of Mammalian Skull Specimens for Dental and Temporomandibular Joint Pathology

Museum skull specimens represent a non-invasive, informative, and readily available means to study temporomandibular joint (TMJ) lesions, dental ...

University of California-Davis

A 9-month-old intact female domestic mediumhair cat presented with a 5-month history of obtundation, lethargy, hypernatremia (181 mmol/l; reference interval [RI] 151-158 mmol/l), hyperchloremia (142 mmol/l; RI 117-126 mmol/l), azotemia (blood urea nitrogen 51 mg/dl; RI 18-33 mg/dl), creatinine 3.0 mg/dl (RI 1.1-2.2 mg/dl), hyperphosphatemia (8.3 mg/dl; RI 3.2-6.3 mg/dl) and total hypercalcemia (11.4 mg/dl; RI 9-10.9 mg/dl), with concurrent polyuria with adipsia. Neurologic evaluation revealed proprioceptive deficits, and this finding paired with a history of focal seizure-like activity despite improving sodium concentrations suggested a cerebrothalamic lesion. For this reason, and historical and biochemical findings consistent with adipsic diabetes insipidus (DI), MRI of the brain was performed, which revealed a lesion of the hypophyseal fossa consistent with a pituitary cyst. Given the patient's age and the timeline of clinical signs, a congenital pituitary cyst was strongly suspected. The patient was managed initially with intravenous fluids to correct the hypernatremia, then managed for more than 4 years with topical ocular desmopressin acetate administration and free water administered through a feeding tube. This cat's clinical diagnosis included a congenital pituitary cyst with subsequent central DI and primary adipsia.

Janny Evenhuis

Dentistry and Oral Surgery Service,
William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital,
School of Veterinary Medicine,
Dentistry and Oral Surgery Service, William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine

University of California-Davis

Systematic Assessment of Mammalian Skull Specimens for Dental and Temporomandibular Joint Pathology