Abstract

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the skull and beak was used as a diagnostic tool in eight cases of chronic sinusitis in psittacine birds (three African gray parrots, Psittacus erithacus, two blue and gold macaws, Ara ararauna, a scarlet macaw, Ara macao, a harlequin macaw, Ara ararauna × macao, and a yellow-naped Amazon parrot, Amazona oratix auropalliata). Six of the birds had abnormal magnetic resonance images, including lesions involving the infraorbital and beak sinuses. The MR images allowed localization of the lesion within the sinuses and this enabled the most appropriate surgical approach to be used for the removal of the lesion. Contrast MRI was used in one bird to determine the nature of the lesion. Two of the birds had normal MR images. MRI is superior to radiography and computed tomography (CT) in lesion localization and differentiation. MRI is an excellent diagnostic tool for the localization of lesions in psittacines with chronic sinusitis.