Siringomielia cervicale secondaria a singole masse intracraniche occupanti spazio nel cane: caratteristiche di risonanza magnetica e fattori di rischio
The aims of the present study are 1), to investigate cervical syringomyelia (SM) secondary to single space-occupying intracranial lesions in dogs, and 2), to evaluate potential risk factors based on brain and cervical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies conducted for the diagnosis of these two conditions. As a multicentric retrospective single cohort study, we recruited a population of dogs affected by a single space-occupying brain lesion and we divided it into two groups, based on the presence or absence of cervical SM. These two groups were compared for signalment (age, sex, and cranial morphology) and for MRI findings (relative intracranial mass volume, relative perilesional oedema volume, mass effect, ventriculomegaly and cerebellar herniation). Based on the current knowledge about SM and its aetiopathogenesis, our initial hypothesis considered factors predisposing to cervical SM development being lesions with substantial relative mass volume, localisation in the caudal cranial fossa, cerebellar transforaminal herniation and/or obstructive hydrocephalus.
Our statistical analysis revealed that intracranial mass with relative volumetric index higher than 0.028 and causing cerebellar transforaminal herniation and/or obstructive hydrocephalus predispose to cervical SM formation. Therefore, in presence of these findings on a brain MRI study is indicated to extend the diagnostic imaging protocol to the cervical spine to check for the potential presence of SM. Conversely, the detection of cervical SM, in the absence of any additional cervical disease, addresses the clinician to extend the MRI study to the brain for the search of a potential primary mass lesion
