Cerebrospinal fluid signal-void sign in dogs

The cerebrospinal fluid signal-void sign is an observable signal loss from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), especially on T2-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images. In people, this sign is attributed to rapid CSF flow or turbulence from arterial pulsations and occurs more frequently with reduced intracranial compliance. The purposes of this study were to describe the CSF signal-void sign, document whether a similar sign occurs in dogs and investigate associations between it and other conditions. The sample population consisted of 327 dogs admitted for neurocranium evaluation using a 0.2 T system. Review of the medical records and MR images was performed to characterize the presence and location of a CSF signal-void sign, ventricular size, syringomyelia, and other lesions. A CSF signal-void sign was detected in at least the mesencephalic aqueduct in 59/327 (18.0%) dogs, including some with no morphologic brain abnormality. The majority of these dogs (45/59% or 76%) weighed < 15 kg. In two other dogs, a CSF signal-void sign was detected only in a cervical syrinx. In dogs weighing > 15 kg, a CSF signal-void sign was seen with various conditions. In 137/327 (41.9%) dogs weighing < 15 kg, the presence of a CSF signal-void sign in the aqueduct (45 dogs) was associated with syringomyelia (P = 0.0468) and increased ventricular size (P = 0.0054): syringomyelia also was associated with increased ventricular size (P = 0.0009). In conclusion, a CSF signal-void sign was seen in dogs with various conditions. In small-breed dogs, a CSF signal-void sign in the aqueduct was associated with ventricular enlargement and syringomyelia.