Quantitative analysis of hydrocephalic ventricular alterations in Yorkshire terriers using magnetic resonance imaging

Abstract

ABSTRACT:The purpose of this work was to evaluate hydrocephalic ventricular changes using three quantitative analysis methods. The height, area and volume of the ventricles and brain were measured in 20 Yorkshire terriers (10 normal and 10 hydrocephalic dogs) using low-field MR imaging (at 0.2 Tesla). All measurements were averaged and the relative ventricle size was defined as a percentage (percent size of the ventricle/size of the brain). The difference between normal and hydrocephalic dogs was statistically significant for the average of each ventricle as well as for the percentage value. Five hydrocephalic symptoms were identified: circling, head tilting, seizures, ataxia, and strabismus. With respect to height, area and volume of the brain/ventricle, the difference between normal and hydrocephalic dogs was not significant. The ventricle/brain with height (1D) was related to the area (2D) and volume (3D). The correlations with area and volume were as good as the ventricle/brain height ratio in the case of hydrocephalic dogs. Therefore, one-, two-and three-dimensional quantitative methods may be complementary. We expect that the stage of hydrocephalic symptoms can be classified if statistical significance for ventricular size among symptoms is determined with the analysis of a large number of hydrocephalic cases.

Diagnosis of cerebral ventriculomegaly in felines using 0.25 Tesla and 3 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging

“…In several studies of dogs, ventricular dilations were measured based on ventricular height, area and volume (De Hann et al 1994;Kii et al 1997;Vite et al 1997;Vullo et al 1997;Esteve-Ratsch et al 2001;Woo et al 2010;Pivetta et al 2013). All three measurement methods have statistical significance.…”

“…External hydrocephalus is described as an accumulation of CSF between the cerebral hemispheres and the overlying arachnoid membrane; internal hydrocephalus is a term commonly used to describe abnormal dilatation of the ventricular system inside the cranium (Tani et al 2001;Dewey et al 2003). Th is condition may also result from CSF overproduction, congenital malformations blocking normal fl uid drainage or from complications associated with head injuries and infections (Imamura et al 2006;Klarica et al 2009;Okada et al 2009;Pattison et al 2010;Woo et al 2010;Eskandari et al 2011;Przyborowska et al 2013;Keating et al 2016). Hydrocephalus was formerly considered to be a rare disease in veterinary medicine; however, the prevalence of the disease has increased in recent years due to the greater availability of magnetic resonance imaging.…”

“…Hydrocephalus was formerly considered to be a rare disease in veterinary medicine; however, the prevalence of the disease has increased in recent years due to the greater availability of magnetic resonance imaging. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) ex-doi: 10.17221/59/2017-VETMED aminations provide anatomical and morphological information, and they are performed to evaluate the soft tissue, joints, tendons, but especially the central nervous system (CNS) of humans and animals (Tani et al 2001;Woo et al 2010;Adamiak et al 2012;Zhalniarovich et al 2013;Hori et al 2015;Skalec et al 2016;Przyborowska et al 2017a;Zhalniarovich et al 2017a;Zhalniarovich et al 2017b). In cats, viral infections such as parvoviral infections or feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) are common causes of hydrocephalus (Tani et al 2001;Keating et al 2016).…”

“…The results of MRI examinations evaluating ventriculomegaly or hydrocephalus in animals have been discussed in several studies (Kii et al 1997;Vite et al 1997;Vullo et al 1997;Kii et al 1998;Esteve-Ratsch et al 2001;Nykamp et al 2001;Woo et al 2010;Pivetta et al 2013). Most studies were performed on dog breeds predisposed to ventriculomegaly, whereas cats have never been subjected to MRI exams.…”

Hydrocephalus in dogs: a review

“…Congenital hydrocephalus is most common in toybreed dogs such as the Maltese, English bulldog, Pug, Pomeranian, Yorkshire terrier, Chihuahua, Lhasa apso, Toy poodle, Boston terrier and Pekingese (Vullo et al 1997;Thomas 1999;Esteve-Ratsch et al 2001;Ohlerth and Scharf 2007;Woo et al 2010). The causes are diverse and include genetic factors, developmental anomalies, intrauterine or prenatal infection or bleeding in the brain (Thomas 1999).…”