Hydrocephalus: where to start on MRI

Different imaging techniques were used for identifying the hydrocephalus including the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique; however, three dimensions were used. The aim of this study was to define the hydrocephalus using a single dimension, the midline sagittal plane of MRI. 32 dogs of different breeds were divided into two groups: Normal group (no abnormalities in their brains and the hydrocephalic group (clinically diagnosed with hydrocephalus). The shape of the ventricular system was defined in normal and abnormal groups. Then the areas of 1) the ventricular system (lateral, 3rd, 4th ventricles and mesencephalic aqueduct), 2) the interthalamic adhesion and 3) cerebellum were measured in the two groups using a single dimension, the midline sagittal plane of MRI technique. The correlation between the area of the ventricular system and both of the head conformation and the bodyweight were also determined. The shape of the ventricular system was well defined in normal group and it was deviated in the hydrocephalic group. The corrected area of the ventricular system was significantly enlarged in hydrocephalic group. The corrected area of the interthalamic and cerebellum were significantly decreased in abnormal group in comparison to the normal group. The head conformation and the bodyweight had no significant correlation with the area of the ventricular system in both normal and abnormal groups. It is conclude that both of the shape and area of the ventricular system can be considered for defining the hydrocephalus in dogs’ brain using a single dimension, the midline sagittal plane of MRI.