Abstract
Strokes, both ischemic and hemorrhagic, are the most common underlying cause of acute, non-progressive encephalopathy in dogs. In effect, substantial information detailing the underlying causes and predisposing factors, affected vessels, imaging features, and outcomes based on location and extent of injury is available. The features of canine strokes on both computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have been described in numerous studies. This summary article serves as a compilation of these various descriptions. Drawing from the established and emerging stroke evaluation sequences used in the investigation of strokes in humans, this summary describes all theoretically available sequences. Particular detail is given to logistics of image acquisition, description of imaging findings, and each sequence's advantages and disadvantages. As the imaging features of both forms of strokes are highly representative of the underlying pathophysiologic stages in the hours to months following stroke onset, the descriptions of strokes at various stages are also discussed. It is unlikely that canine strokes can be diagnosed within the same rapid time frame as human strokes, and therefore the opportunity for thrombolytic intervention in ischemic strokes is unattainable. However, a thorough understanding of the appearance of strokes at various stages can aid the clinician when presented with a patient that has developed a stroke in the days or weeks prior to evaluation. Additionally, investigation into new imaging techniques may increase the sensitivity and specificity of stroke diagnosis, as well as provide new ways to monitor strokes over time.
Highlights
Strokes, commonly referred to as cerebrovascular accidents, are becoming increasingly recognized as a common cause of acute neurologic dysfunction in dogs
The purpose of this review is to describe the imaging sequences, both established and emerging, that are available for evaluation of both ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes in dogs
The relationship between cerebral blood flow, cerebral blood volume, and mean transit time differs between the infarcted core and the penumbra [34,35,36,37,38]
Summary
Commonly referred to as cerebrovascular accidents, are becoming increasingly recognized as a common cause of acute neurologic dysfunction in dogs. The purpose of this review is to describe the imaging sequences, both established and emerging, that are available for evaluation of both ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes in dogs. As the focus of this review is to describe established and emerging imaging modalities for characterizing vascular accidents, knowledge of the vascular anatomy of the brain is essential. Five major paired arteries supply the dog brain, namely, the rostral, middle, and caudal cerebral arteries and the rostral and caudal cerebellar arteries [1, 4]. All but the caudal cerebellar arteries branch from a ring at the base of the brain, called the cerebral arterial circle or the Circle of Willis, which is formed from the paired internal carotid arteries and the basilar artery [1, 4]. The rostral cerebellar artery supplies the cerebellar hemispheres and the vermis [9,10,11,12,13]
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