%0 Journal Article
%T Changes over time in craniocerebral morphology and syringomyelia in cavalier King Charles spaniels with Chiari-like malformation
%A Colin J Driver
%A Luisa De Risio
%A Sarah Hamilton
%A Clare Rusbridge
%A Ruth Dennis
%A Imelda M McGonnell
%A Holger A Volk
%J BMC Veterinary Research
%D 2012
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1746-6148-8-215
%X The maximal syrinx width, height of the foramen magnum, length of cerebellar herniation and caudal cranial fossa volume increased over time. Ventricular and caudal fossa parenchymal volumes were not significantly different between scans.The results of this study suggest that syringomyelia progresses with time. Increased caudal cranial fossa volume may be associated with active resorption of the supraoccipital bone, which has previously been found in histology specimens from adult CKCS. We hypothesise that active resorption of the supraoccipital bone occurs due to pressure from the cerebellum. These findings have important implications for our understanding of the pathogenesis and variable natural clinical progression of CM and syringomyelia in CKCS.Chiari-like malformation (CM) is a malformation of the hindbrain and the surrounding caudal cranial fossa (CCF) reported in small breed dogs. The condition is named after its analagous human counterpart, Chiari-type 1 malformation [1]. In cavalier King Charles spaniels (CKCS) the condition has a complex oligogenic trait of moderately high heritability [2-5]. CM is characterised by herniation of part of the cerebellar vermis through the foramen magnum [6,7]. Other reported abnormalities include occipital bone hypoplasia/dysplasia or a ¡®shallow¡¯ occipital bone [8], kinking of the medulla and malformations of the craniocervical junction [8-10], ventriculomegaly or hydrocephalus [11] and syringomyelia (SM) [6]. SM is a single or series of non-cerebrospinal fluid filled cavities within the spinal cord parenchyma, the formation of which is most likely associated with alteration of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow [12]. SM is responsible for clinical signs of neurological disease in dogs including pain, cervical scoliosis and ataxia [6,13]. There is a high prevalence of SM in symptomatic CKCS with CM [3]. The pathogenesis of CM/SM is therefore often investigated concurrently.The relationship between CM and SM in CKCS is thought to
%U http://www.biomedcentral.com/1746-6148/8/215