Do you know how polymicrogyria looks like?

Polymicrogyria in a miniature poodle dog: Clinical and MRI findings

Marc Sarrà-Rovira, Ines Carrera, Christian Maeso, Patrícia Montoliu

Background
Polymicrogyria (PMG) is a congenital brain anomaly characterized by excessive small gyri with abnormal cortical lamination. It is common in humans but rarely reported in dogs, with prior cases involving nine standard poodles and one golden retriever. PMG results from disruptions in neuronal migration or cortical organization during brain development. This case describes PMG in a miniature poodle with epileptic seizures as the sole clinical sign, differing from previous reports.

Methods
A 7-month-old male miniature poodle presented with a history of epileptic seizures. A complete physical and neurological examination, blood work, urinalysis, bile acid testing, and thyroid hormone assessment were normal. MRI, including advanced susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI), was conducted to evaluate potential brain abnormalities. A cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sample was also analyzed.

Results
MRI revealed abnormal sulci and gyri in the splenial and cingulate regions of the brain, causing mass effects on the corpus callosum and lateral ventricles. SWI identified asymmetrical abnormal vessels in the occipital lobe, a novel finding in canine PMG studies. White matter in affected regions was underdeveloped, with no perilesional edema. The CSF analysis showed no abnormalities. Despite MRI evidence of brain malformation, the dog's vision and other neurological functions were intact, with seizures being the only clinical manifestation.

Limitations
Histopathological confirmation was not performed due to the favorable prognosis of the patient. The absence of histopathology limits the ability to definitively confirm the PMG diagnosis and understand the associated vascular abnormalities.

Conclusions
This case expands the clinical spectrum of PMG in dogs, showing that it can present with seizures as the only neurological symptom and without blindness. SWI may offer valuable insights into vascular anomalies associated with PMG. The increasing availability of high-field MRI is likely to enhance the detection and understanding of congenital brain anomalies in veterinary medicine.

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