Open AccessPrognostic Value of Early Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Dogs after Traumatic Brain Injury: 50 Cases
Author(s) -
Beltran E.,
Platt S.R.,
McConnell J.F.,
Dennis R.,
Keys D.A.,
De Risio L.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of veterinary internal medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.356
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1939-1676
pISSN - 0891-6640
DOI - 10.1111/jvim.12368
Subject(s) - medicine , magnetic resonance imaging , traumatic brain injury , retrospective cohort study , radiology , midline shift , intraparenchymal hemorrhage , grading (engineering) , nuclear medicine , pathology , surgery , computed tomography , civil engineering , engineering , psychiatry , subarachnoid hemorrhage
Background The prognostic value of early magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI ) in dogs after traumatic brain injury ( TBI ) remains unclear. Objectives Determine whether MRI findings are associated with prognosis after TBI in dogs. Animals Fifty client‐owned dogs. Methods Retrospective study of dogs with TBI that underwent 1.5T MRI within 14 days after head trauma. MRI evaluators were blinded to the clinical presentation, and all images were scored based on an MRI grading system (Grade I [normal brain parenchyma] to Grade VI [bilateral lesions affecting the brainstem with or without any lesions of lesser grade]). Skull fractures, percentage of intraparenchymal lesions, degree of midline shift, and type of brain herniation were evaluated. MGCS was assessed at presentation. The presence of seizures was recorded. Outcome was assessed at 48 h (alive or dead) and at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after TBI . Results Sixty‐six percent of the dogs had abnormal MRI findings. MRI grade was negatively correlated ( P < .001) with MGCS . A significant negative correlation of MRI grade, degree of midline shift, and percentage of intraparenchymal lesions with follow‐up scores was identified. The MGCS was lower in dogs with brain herniation ( P = .0191). Follow‐up scores were significantly lower in dogs that had brain herniation or skull fractures. The possibility of having seizures was associated with higher percentage of intraparenchymal lesions ( P = 0.0054) and 10% developed PTE . Conclusions and Clinical Importance Significant associations exist between MRI findings and prognosis in dogs with TBI . MRI can help to predict prognosis in dogs with TBI .