Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
MRI shows Dandy-Walker-like brain cyst in young dachshund with ataxia
By Kobatake, Yui et al.·Published in The Journal of veterinary medical science·2013·Ozawa Animal Hospital, Japan·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Magnetic resonance imaging diagnosis of Dandy-Walker-like syndrome in a wire-haired miniature dachshund.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 12-week-old female Wire-haired miniature dachshund was brought in because she was having trouble with coordination and balance, showing signs of ataxia (unsteady movements) and hypermetria (overreaching her limbs). After running tests including CT and MRI scans, the vet found abnormalities in her brain, similar to a condition called Dandy-Walker syndrome seen in humans. Unfortunately, the exact cause of her condition was not identified, and the findings were confirmed during a necropsy. This case highlights the importance of advanced imaging in diagnosing complex neurological issues in pets.
People also search for: puppy ataxia treatment · Dandy-Walker syndrome in dogs · dachshund brain problems · dog MRI results explanation
Abstract
A 12-week-old female Wire-haired miniature dachshund presented with non-progressive ataxia and hypermetria. Due to the animal's clinical history and symptoms, cerebellar malformations were suspected. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) detected bilateral ventriculomegaly, dorsal displacement of the cerebellar tentorium, a defect in the cerebellar tentorium and a large fluid-filled cystic structure that occupied the regions where the cerebellar vermis and occipital lobes are normally located. The abovementioned cystic structure and the defect in the cerebellar tentorium were comparable to those seen in humans with Dandy-Walker syndrome. However, the presence of the cystic structure in the occipital lobe region was unique to the present case. During necropsy, the MRI findings were confirmed, but the etiology of the condition was not determined.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23719692/