PMC10248164_01
Dog 1, radiographic study with a ventro-dorsal projection of the pelvis performed at 3 months of age (A) in comparison to the tomographic 3D volume rendering reconstruction of the pelvis at 18 months of age (B). There is sacralization of L7. Only S1 is present and hypoplastic; the dorsal part of the arch is not fused and has no spinal process (between arrows). Caudally, there is a single coccygeal vertebra not articulating with the sacrum.
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F1
Caudal vertebrae were absent in dog 1 (Figure 1A), while in dog 2 several coccygeal vertebrae not articulating with the rest of the spine were present (Figure 2A). In particular, both dogs presented L7 sacralization and partial sacral agenesis, consisting of the presence of a vestigial S1, and presenting a severely incomplete body that was not dorsally fused and had no spinous process, likely compatible with a SB (Figures 1B, 2B).
Dog 2, radiographic study with a ventro-dorsal projection of the pelvis performed at 3 months of age (A) in comparison to the tomographic 3D volume rendering reconstruction of the pelvis at 18 months of age (B). Similar findings as in dog 1 are noted: L7 sacralization, S1 with spina bifida (between arrows), and sacral agenesis. Caudally, several coccygeal vertebrae are present, not articulating with S1.
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F2
Caudal vertebrae were absent in dog 1 (Figure 1A), while in dog 2 several coccygeal vertebrae not articulating with the rest of the spine were present (Figure 2A). In particular, both dogs presented L7 sacralization and partial sacral agenesis, consisting of the presence of a vestigial S1, and presenting a severely incomplete body that was not dorsally fused and had no spinous process, likely compatible with a SB (Figures 1B, 2B).
Sagittal (A) and transverse (C) T2 MRI images of the lumbosacral region of dog 1, compared with an ultrasonographic transverse scan (B) of the dorsal sacral aspect. A dural sac occupying the entire spinal canal protruding dorsally (arrows) and ending in a subfascial fat structure may be noted between the arrowheads.
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F3
In both patients, the spinal cord was visible, partially protruded caudally, due to the incomplete fusion of the dorsal lamina (Figure 3B). Besides the osteoarticular abnormalities in the radiographs, in dog 1, a dural sac occupying the entire spinal canal and ending abruptly in a subfascial, somewhat organized fat structure was observed (Figures 3A-C).
In dog 2, an extracanalar, well-defined subfascial cystic structure caudal to the spine, likely consisting of meningocele, is displayed between calipers by the ultrasonographic sagittal study (A) at 3 months of age and later confirmed by MRI [sagittal T2 image, (B)] at 4 months of age (arrows).
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F4
In dog 2, a well-defined anechoic oval 2 x 0.8 cm structure consistent with a meningocele was observed (Figure 4A). In dog 2, the dural sac occupied the entire spinal canal and ended in a well-defined extracanalar, subfascial cystic structure, caudal to the spine and likely communicating with the subarachnoid space, and probably consisting of a meningocele, thus confirming ultrasound findings (Figure 4B).