title: Use of magnetic resonance imaging for morphometric analysis of the caudal cranial fossa in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To perform morphometric analysis of the caudal cranial fossa in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCSs), to assess the relationship between caudal fossa dimensions and the frequency of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of occipital abnormalities in CKCSs (with and without syringomyelia), and to compare caudal cranial fossa measurements in CKCSs with measurements of 2 groups of mesaticephalic dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  70 CKCSs and 80 mesaticephalic (control) dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dogs were placed into 4 groups as follows: Labrador Retrievers (n = 40), spaniel-type dogs (40; English Springer Spaniels and Cocker Spaniels), CKCSs with syringomyelia (55), and CKCSs without syringomyelia (15). Multiple morphometric measurements (linear, angular, and area) were obtained from cranial midsagittalT2-weighted magnetic resonance images including the brain and cervical portion of the spinal cord. Several specific MRI findings were also recorded for CKCSs that appeared to affect the occipital bone and cervicomedullary junction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant difference was identified among breeds in control groups and between sexes in any of the groups for all morphometric measurements. Significant differences were identified in CKCSs, compared with mesaticephalic dogs, in the area of the caudal cranial fossa and for several linear measurements that reflected the length of the ventral aspect of the occipital bone. These differences were greater in CKCSs with syringomyelia. All CKCSs had abnormalities in occipital bone shape.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CKCSs had a shallower caudal cranial fossa and abnormalities of the occipital bone, compared with those of mesaticephalic dogs. These changes were more severe in CKCSs with syringomyelia.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH, Scotland.
authors.forename: Inés
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Carrera
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dennis
authors.forename: Dominic J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Mellor
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Penderis
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sullivan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D019291:Skull Base / Q000033:anatomy & histology*