Malformaţia de tip Chiari și siringomielia la câine. Aspecte imagistice ale rezonanţei magnetice și scala de clasificare

Chiari-like malformation (CLM) is a developmental condition characterized by a mismatch between caudal cranial fossa volume (too small) and the brain parenchyma (too big), causing a caudal herniation of the cerebellum and brainstem into or through the foramen magnum. Secondary to this, a narrowing or blockage of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow at the foramen magnum occurs, leading to an abnormal circulation of the CSF between the brain and the spinal cord. This pressure difference creates fluid filled cavities (syrinxes) inside the spinal cord - syringomyelia (SM). The gold standard in the diagnosis of CLM and SM is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning, allowing an accurate examination of the skull, brain and spine, highlighting the presence of any abnormality. Using a specific MRI screening protocol, it allows a classification of the CLM and SM in three grading scales, from grade 0 - normal, to grade 2, applied also as a breeding guide.