Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How brain midline shift affects survival in dogs with brain disease
By Guy, Bethany et al.·Published in Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association·2025·Department of Veterinary Medicine, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: The effect of midline shift on survival time in dogs with structural brain disease diagnosed on MRI.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study looked at 77 dogs with brain problems diagnosed through MRI and found that those with a midline shift (a shift in the brain's position) had a much shorter survival time. Dogs with this shift lived an average of just 34.5 days, while those without it survived around 241 days. This suggests that a midline shift is a serious sign and indicates a poorer prognosis for dogs with structural brain disease. If your dog has been diagnosed with a brain issue, it's important to discuss these findings with your veterinarian for a better understanding of their condition and treatment options.
People also search for: dog brain disease prognosis · midline shift in dogs · MRI results for dog brain problems
Abstract
The effect of midline shift identified on brain MRI on survival time in dogs with structural brain disease is relatively unknown. This retrospective single-centered cohort study reviewed medical and imaging data of 77 dogs with structural brain lesions evident on MRI. Images were reviewed for the presence of midline shift, brain edema, foramen magnum herniation, and ventriculomegaly. Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression analysis were undertaken to compare survival between dogs with and without midline shift. Midline shift was present in 40 of 77 (52%) dogs and absent in 37 of 77 (48%). Univariate analysis revealed that dogs with midline shift had a median survival time of 34.5 days (95% CI, 4-108 days) compared with 241 days (95% CI, 133,- days) in dogs without midline shift (hazard ratio = 2.67, 95% CI, 1.5-4.49). Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed a hazard ratio of 3.6 (95% CI, 1.7-7.6; P-value < .001) for dogs with midline shift. Shorter median survival times remained significant in all groups after segregation based on etiological diagnosis. The significantly shorter survival times observed herein for dogs with midline shifts, regardless of etiologic cause, provide further evidence that midline shift holds value as a negative prognostic factor in diagnostic imaging.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39388654/