Abstract
BackgroundCerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow in disease has been investigated with two‐dimensional (2D) phase‐contrast magnetic resonance imaging (PC‐MRI) in humans. Despite similar diseases occurring in dogs, PC‐MRI is not routinely performed and CSF flow and its association with diseases is poorly understood.ObjectivesTo adapt 2D and four‐dimensional (4D) PC‐MRI to dogs and to apply them in a group of neurologically healthy dogs.AnimalsSix adult Beagle dogs of a research colony.MethodsProspective, experimental study. Sequences were first optimized on a phantom mimicking small CSF spaces and low velocity flow. Then, 4D PC‐MRI and 2D PC‐MRI at the level of the mesencephalic aqueduct, foramen magnum (FM), and cervical spine were performed.ResultsCSF displayed a bidirectional flow pattern on 2D PC‐MRI at each location. Mean peak velocity (and range) in cm/s was 0.92 (0.51‐2.08) within the mesencephalic aqueduct, 1.84 (0.89‐2.73) and 1.17 (0.75‐1.8) in the ventral and dorsal subarachnoid space (SAS) at the FM, and 2.03 (range 1.1‐3.0) and 1.27 (range 0.96‐1.82) within the ventral and dorsal SAS of the cervical spine. With 4D PC‐MRI, flow velocities of >3 cm/s were visualized in the phantom, but no flow data were obtained in dogs.ConclusionPeak flow velocities were measured with 2D PC‐MRI at all 3 locations and slower velocities were recorded in healthy Beagle dogs compared to humans. These values serve as baseline for future applications. The current technical settings did not allow measurement of CSF flow in Beagle dogs by 4D PC‐MRI.
Highlights
The 3 main functions of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are the regulation of the intracranial volume, maintenance of the chemical environment ofJ Vet Intern Med. 2020;1–8.wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/jvim CHRISTEN ET AL.the central nervous system, and transport of biologically active substances
The present study provides normative data of Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow in a group of middle-aged neurological healthy dogs as baseline for comparison in future studies
phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (PC-MRI) is routinely used as a method to quantify CSF flow in humans but needs adaptation for use in veterinary patients, because of the small CSF spaces,[30,31] slow CSF flow velocities, and higher heart rate compared to humans.[29]
Summary
The 3 main functions of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are the regulation of the intracranial volume, maintenance of the chemical environment of. Toy breed dogs and brachycephalic dogs in particular show abnormalities of CSF spaces in MRI similar to humans.[24,25,26,27,28] only limited velocity data are available in dogs and the only existing study in dogs demonstrated a lower peak velocity in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCS) compared to control dogs at the foramen magnum (FM) This investigation revealed that the combination of slower CSF peak velocity in the dorsal SAS at the level C2-C3 intervertebral disc and higher peak velocity at the level of the FM in CKCS was associated with syringomyelia in CKCS.[29] Despite these promising results, PC-MRI is not implemented as a diagnostic tool to detect CSF flow abnormalities in dogs with hydrocephalus, syringomyelia, or other conditions indicative of stenosis of CSF flow. The aim of this prospective study is to optimize 2D and 4D PCMRI for the smaller CSF spaces and slower flow velocity in dogs, to provide normative values from neurologically healthy dogs with normal appearance of CSF spaces on MRI
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