1. Use of Morphometric Mapping to Characterise Symptomatic Chiari-Like Malformation, Secondary Syringomyelia and Associated Brachycephaly in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
- Author
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Knowler SP, Cross C, Griffiths S, McFadyen AK, Jovanovik J, Tauro A, Kibar Z, Driver CJ, La Ragione RM, and Rusbridge C
- Subjects
- Animals, Arnold-Chiari Malformation complications, Arnold-Chiari Malformation diagnostic imaging, Arnold-Chiari Malformation genetics, Brain pathology, Breeding, Cervical Vertebrae pathology, Craniosynostoses diagnostic imaging, Craniosynostoses genetics, Discriminant Analysis, Dog Diseases genetics, Dog Diseases pathology, Dogs, Female, Foramen Magnum diagnostic imaging, Foramen Magnum pathology, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Male, Observer Variation, Olfactory Bulb diagnostic imaging, Olfactory Bulb pathology, Phenotype, Reproducibility of Results, Retrospective Studies, Rhombencephalon pathology, Skull pathology, Skull Base diagnostic imaging, Skull Base pathology, Syringomyelia diagnostic imaging, Syringomyelia etiology, Syringomyelia genetics, Arnold-Chiari Malformation veterinary, Brain diagnostic imaging, Cephalometry, Cervical Vertebrae diagnostic imaging, Craniosynostoses veterinary, Dog Diseases diagnostic imaging, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Rhombencephalon diagnostic imaging, Skull diagnostic imaging, Syringomyelia veterinary
- Abstract
Objectives: To characterise the symptomatic phenotype of Chiari-like malformation (CM), secondary syringomyelia (SM) and brachycephaly in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel using morphometric measurements on mid-sagittal Magnetic Resonance images (MRI) of the brain and craniocervical junction., Methods: This retrospective study, based on a previous quantitative analysis in the Griffon Bruxellois (GB), used 24 measurements taken on 130 T1-weighted MRI of hindbrain and cervical region. Associated brachycephaly was estimated using 26 measurements, including rostral forebrain flattening and olfactory lobe rotation, on 72 T2-weighted MRI of the whole brain. Both study cohorts were divided into three groups; Control, CM pain and SM and their morphometries compared with each other., Results: Fourteen significant traits were identified in the hindbrain study and nine traits in the whole brain study, six of which were similar to the GB and suggest a common aetiology. The Control cohort had the most elliptical brain (p = 0.010), least olfactory bulb rotation (p = 0.003) and a protective angle (p = 0.004) compared to the other groups. The CM pain cohort had the greatest rostral forebrain flattening (p = 0.007), shortest basioccipital (p = 0.019), but a greater distance between the atlas and basioccipital (p = 0.002) which was protective for SM. The SM cohort had two conformation anomalies depending on the severity of craniocervical junction incongruities; i) the proximity of the dens (p <0.001) ii) increased airorhynchy with a smaller, more ventrally rotated olfactory bulb (p <0.001). Both generated 'concertina' flexures of the brain and craniocervical junction., Conclusion: Morphometric mapping provides a diagnostic tool for quantifying symptomatic CM, secondary SM and their relationship with brachycephaly. It is hypothesized that CM pain is associated with increased brachycephaly and SM can result from different combinations of abnormalities of the forebrain, caudal fossa and craniocervical junction which compromise the neural parenchyma and impede cerebrospinal fluid flow., Competing Interests: SPK is a post-graduate research student and CC an undergraduate at the University of Surrey where CR and RMLR are employed. ZK is employed by Montreal University. JJ, CD, AT and CR are employed by Fitzpatrick Referrals Ltd, Surrey, GU7 Q22. SG is employed by the Goddard Veterinary Group, Stone Lion Veterinary Hospital, SW19 5AU. AKM is an independent statistical consultant operating professionally as a sole trader under the company name of akm-stats and did not receive any salary or other remittance for his contribution in this investigation. The University of Surrey, Montreal University, Fitzpatrick Referrals Ltd, Goddard Veterinary Group did not play a role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript and only provided financial support in the form of authors' salaries and/or research materials. None of the authors have personal or financial relationships with other people or organizations that might inappropriately influence or bias the content of the paper. There are no patents, products in development, or marketed products to declare. This does not alter the authors' adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.
- Published
- 2017
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