Morphometric analysis of the cranial cavity and caudal cranial fossa in the dog: a computerized tomographic study

Abstract

This investigation was initiated to develop a reliable and simple computerized tomography (CT) method for evaluating the morphometry of the cranial cavity (CC) and caudal cranial fossa in the dog. We obtained linear, area, and volume measurements of the entire CC and the caudal fossa compartment in 24 dogs, using transverse and reformatted sagittal and dorsal CT images. The ratios between the CC and the caudal fossa volumes were calculated, as were the ratios between the CC and caudal fossa midsagittal (MS) areas. There were statistically significant correlations between absolute volume data and certain linear measurements, a positive correlation between volume ratio and weight, and significant differences in absolute volume values and volume ratio between males and females. The volume ratio, MS area, and certain linear measurements included in this study can be considered as accurate parameters to evaluate the relative size of the CC to caudal fossa in the dog. Such quantitative measures may be useful in systematically characterizing Chiari-type malformations and other developmental anomalies in the dog.

An anatomical study of the dorsal and ventral nasal conchal bullae in normal horses: Computed tomographic anatomical and morphometric findings

“…Computed tomography allows evaluation of single image slices in different scanning planes and the use of specialised software additionally allows accurate linear and volumetric measurements to be obtained. Morphometric cranial measurements using CT have been described in dogs [17,18], and more recently volumetric measurements of normal equine paranasal sinuses were calculated from 3-dimensional reformatted rendering of CT slices using commercial software (Amira TM ) [4]. However, minimal imaging information has been reported on the anatomy of normal or diseased nasal conchal bullae.…”

Chiari‐like malformation and syringomyelia in normal cavalier King Charles spaniels: a multiple diagnostic imaging approach

“…The second goal of the study was to measure, in this clinically normal population, the standard CT dimensions of the caudal fossa; these measurements were calculated in different breeds in a previous study (Garcia‐Real and others 2004). Our data are detailed in the Results section.…”

“…Original CT data were transferred as DICOM images to an image analysis workstation (Osirix v 2.5.1, Dicom Pacs Workstation, http://www.homepage.mac.com/rossetantoine/osirix/). In the sagittal plane, linear dimensions starting from the dorsum sellae were measured as previously described (Garcia‐Real and others 2004): dorsum sellae to cranial aspect of the most dorsal part of the foramen magnum (CdF ds‐crdfm) and dorsum sellae to caudal aspect of the most ventral part of the foramen magnum (CdF ds‐vfm); height of the foramen magnum was also measured (CdF hfm) (Fig 3A). The area of the caudal fossa was calculated (CdF MS area) (Fig 3B).…”

“…Another MR study found no significant relation between the caudal fossa size and SM (Carruthers and others 2007). No tomographic morphometric caudal fossa study (more precise for bone evaluation) has been performed in dogs to confirm directly hypoplasia of the caudal fossa in CKCS with CM; however, a morphometric analysis performed in normal dogs of different breeds has established linear and area measurements correlated to caudal fossa volume allowing a more objective evaluation (Garcia‐Real and others 2004).…”

Morphometric features of the craniocervical junction region in dogs with suspected Chiari-like malformation determined by combined use of magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography

“…Additionally, concurrent neural disease is commonly identified in dogs undergoing imaging because of CLM. 1,[27][28][29] Studies have identified positive associations between the caudal fossa volumeto-total cranial volume ratio and neurologic signs, 1 between volume ratios and linear measurements, 28 and between decreased caudal fossa volume and syringomyelia. 25,26 Techniques have been reported that use linear and 3-D measurements of MR and CT images to determine total brain volume, total cranial volume, and cranial and caudal fossa volumes.…”