MRI Comp Page

Above is shown a comparison of an MRI showing a full cerebellum vs. the skull shape of a dog with a full cerebellum and a dog with an MRI showing a crushed cerebellum vs. the skull shape of a dog with a crushed cerebellum.  The cerebellum is circled in red.  You can easily see there is a huge difference in shape of cerebellum between these two dogs--the one on the left is quite full, the one on the right is severely crushed.

The skull xray of a dog with a full cerebellum is below that on the left and the skull xray of a dog with a crushed cerebellum is shown on the right.  You can easily see there is a distinct difference in the shape of the back of the skull between the two and why the cerebellum ends up crushed.  The most distinct difference, besides the fact that the skull on the right is shorter from front to back, is that the occiput sticks out in the skull xray on the left.  In the right, that occiput is still there, but it is more downsloped and blends in with the back of the skull to the point you can barely see it--almost like someone took a hammer to the occiput and smashed it in.  

Below are more side skull xrays of dogs who have also been MRId.  Their diagnosis will be listed below the comps.  The idea is to see if any differences in skull shape could be ascertained from a simple skull xray. Next to it the MRI was fit into the skull xray just to see where everything fits in.  Below is the result.  So far there appears to be a considerable difference in the shape of the back of the skull between the dogs with SM and without!

More xrays are welcome!!!

Below are Cavaliers WITH SM.

   
Dog above has moderate to severe malformation and SM with symptoms

    
Dog above has moderate malformation and SM with symptoms

Dog above has moderate malformation, no herniation, and syrinxes.

Dog above has moderate malformation, herniation and syrinxes.

Dog above has moderate to severe malformation, herniation and syrinxes.

Dog above has moderate malformation, herniation, and syrinxes.

Dog above has mild malformation, moderate herniation, and syrinxes.

    
Dog above has moderate malformation and SM with symptoms and has already has surgery.
You can actually see where the skull was cut away.

Below are Cavaliers without SM.

 

Dog above has extremely mild malformation, no SM, no symptoms
Below are the front and side head pictures of the dog above.

   
Dog above has extremely mild malformation, no SM, no symptoms
Below are the front and side head pictures of the dog above.  Sorry his eyes were a bit closed in the front head shot!

    
Dog above has mild malformation, no SM, no symptoms

    
Dog above has mild malformation, no SM, no symptoms

Dog above has mild malformation, no SM, no symptoms.

Dog above has mild malformation, no SM, very slight hydromyelia, no symptoms

Below are many side head pictures of dogs from the 70s/80s.   All were either imports, had one parent as an import, or all 4 grandparents were imports.
You can easily see the longer and flatter skulls Cavaliers used to have.  Most of these also became CKCSC champions.