UW veterinary school now offers CT-guided needle brain biopsies

When a dog shows signs of brain damage such as seizures, incoordination, circling or behavior changes, the source is not easy to diagnose.

But veterinary neurologists at the School of Veterinary Medicine have implemented a new technique that helps pinpoint the source of the problem.

“Using CT-guided imaging, we can determine exactly where to insert the biopsy needle,” says Filippo Adamo, one of only two board-certified veterinary neurologists in the state, both of whom work at the School of Veterinary Medicine.

That means that veterinary neurologists can determine whether the brain lesion is due to inflammation or if it is a tumor, without needing to resort to invasive procedures like surgery. Based on the results, they can then implement appropriate treatment.

MRI scans are used initially to show whether a lesion is present. If it is, the CT-guided needle biopsy allows doctors to collect samples from the brain lesion and submit the samples for testing (including cytology, histopathology and culture). From there, an accurate diagnosis is obtained so that appropriate therapy can begin.

In the past, surgery was required to collect diagnostic samples. However, surgery was not possible when the problems were located deep in the brain. The new procedure allows doctors to collect samples of lesions located in deep brain structures and as small as 3 millimeters. The capability offers better options for owners of dogs diagnosed with brain problems.