Evaluation of Cerebrospinal fluid disorders in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCS) predispose to a myriad of neurologic disorders because of their phenotype and genotype. Because of the increasing properties of brachycephaly, the frequency of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) disorders increases, accordingly. Chiari like malformation (CLM), syringomyelia (SM) or atlantooccipital overlapping are the examples of such disorders. The diagnosis of CSF disorders can be done by using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). On the other hand, Phase Contrast – MRI (PC-MRI) is one of the important sequence for evaluating CSF fluid dynamiques. In this study 1-8 aged fifteen CKCS were used. After neurologic examination, every patient were scored from 1-5. After that, 3D-SPACE and PC-MRI sequences are performed to all cases. According to the 3D-SPACE sequence; all cases had CLM; however, SM(n=11), atlantooccipital overlapping (n=5), ventriculomegaly/hydrocephalus(n=7), intervertebral disc disease (n=1), rhinnorhea (n=1) and intracranial arachnoid cyst (n=1) were diagnosed with CLM. Moreover, cursor was put at aquaductus mesencephaly, 1cm caudal part of foramen magnum during PC-MRI. In addition to that, as for the cases having SM, the cursor was put at SM, as well. According to the PC-MRI, CSF flow velocity was measured for all of the cases at the determined areas. In order to categorize the cases easily for statistical analysis, they are classified into three according to their clinical scores which changed between 1-5. Group 1 included the cases had clinical score 1 and 2, Group 2 included the cases with clinical score 3 and, finally, Group 3 included the cases which have clinical score 4 and 5. At the end of MRI, the results were evaluated in the workstation of the MRI. By using 3D-SPACE sequence, SM length, SM width and diameter of fourth ventricle were measured and they were compared with the clinical scores. It was found that there was no significant difference between them. In addition to that, ventricle/brain index was calculated for each of the cases had ventriculomegaly and it was stated that there was no hydrocephalus. Especially for the cases that had atlantooccipital overlapping, in order to evaluate craniocervical junction more in detail with respect to having atlantoaxial instability, computered tomography was preferred. According to the results of PC-MRI, the clinical scores of the cases were compared and it was determined that there was no significant difference between the CSF flow velocity and clinical score. To conclude, although the results show no significant difference at every evaluation, the number of cases should be increased so as to come up with a precise result.