Jugular Foramen Syndrome: Concurrent Neurological Deficits, Advanced Imaging Findings, Underlying Diagnoses, and...

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Neurology
• Comparative Pathology
• Diagnostic Imaging

Background:

• Jugular foramen syndrome (JFS) involves cranial nerve (CN) IX, X, and XI dysfunction due to lesions at the jugular foramen (JF).
• JFS is infrequently documented in canine patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detail the clinical presentation, neurological signs, advanced imaging results, diagnoses, and outcomes for dogs diagnosed with JFS.
• To investigate the etiology and prognosis of JFS in a canine population.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective, multicenter study analyzed data from 14 client-owned dogs diagnosed with JFS via advanced imaging.
• Data collection spanned from 2016 to 2024, encompassing clinical, diagnostic, and outcome information.

Main Results:

• Older dogs (median age 9.9 years) presented with chronic signs (median 135 days).
• Common signs included coughing, retching, head tilt, and laryngeal stridor; neurological deficits involved multiple CNs.
• Neoplasia, particularly meningioma (intracranial) and thyroid carcinoma (extracranial), was the frequent diagnosis. Median survival was 218 days.

Conclusions:

• Neoplastic processes are common causes of JFS in dogs, often with extensive lesion spread at diagnosis.
• Neurological deficits frequently indicate involvement of multiple cranial nerves beyond CN IX, X, and XI.
• Advanced head imaging is recommended for dogs exhibiting clinical signs suggestive of JFS.