A Review of Imaging Techniques for Canine Cauda Equina Syndrome

Abstract

There are many imaging modalities available for evaluating the canine lumbosacral region. These include conventional radiography, stress radiography, myelography, epidurography, transosseous and intravenous venography, discography, linear tomography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. Myelography, epidurography and discography are commonly used, but often lack sensitivity. Myelography is of little value when evaluating the cauda equina because the dural sac is elevated from the vertebral canal floor and frequently ends before the lumbosacral junction. Epidurography will identify a ventrally located compressive lesion and discography can delineate the dorsal extent of the diseased disc; however, both are sometimes difficult to interpret. Therefore, more than one of these imaging techniques must be used in order to make a diagnosis. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging have become valuable in evaluating the lumbosacral region in dogs. These modalities have proven to be both sensitive and specific for determining cauda equina compression in both humans and in dogs.

Estudo radiográfico da articulação lombossacra em cães das raças Pastor Alemão, Rottweiler e Doberman

“…Alemão, Labrador Retrivier, Airdale Terrier, Setter Irlandês, Golden Retriever, Boxer, Doberman, Border Collie e Springer Spaniel (Mattoon e Koblik, 1993;Ramirez e Thrall, 1998).…”

“…Entre esses incluem-se as radiografias convencionais e sob estresse (flexão e extensão dos membros pélvicos), mielografia, epidurografia, discografia, venografia, eletromiografia, tomografia computadorizada e ressonância magnética (Ramirez e Thrall, 1998;Silva et al, 2009). Dentre esses, o exame radiográfico continua sendo o de maior facilidade de execução, mais seguro, mais rápido e disponível, permitindo seu uso em maior escala (Ramirez e Thrall, 1998). Por outro lado, devido à baixa capacidade na diferenciação de tecidos moles, podem ocorrer erros de interpretação (Mattoon e Koblik, 1993;Ramirez e Thrall, 1998).…”

“…Dentre esses, o exame radiográfico continua sendo o de maior facilidade de execução, mais seguro, mais rápido e disponível, permitindo seu uso em maior escala (Ramirez e Thrall, 1998). Por outro lado, devido à baixa capacidade na diferenciação de tecidos moles, podem ocorrer erros de interpretação (Mattoon e Koblik, 1993;Ramirez e Thrall, 1998).…”

“…Para aumentar a sensibilidade da avaliação radiográfica na avaliação das afecções da articulação lombossacra, alguns trabalhos tentaram estabelecer medidas quantitativas que possibilitem maior precisão, principalmente pela medida do ângulo lombossacro (Mattoon e Koblik, 1993;Schmid e Lang, 1993;Ramirez e Thrall, 1998;Silva et al, 2009).…”

Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Focal Splenic and Hepatic Lesions in the Dog

“…28,29 In veterinary medicine, MRI has commonly been used in the evaluation of the central nervous system, but other applications are currently under investigation. [31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39] To the author's knowledge, only 1 study has characterized the appearance of several abdominal tumors in dogs; 1 hepatic and 1 splenic hemangiosarcoma were included. 40 The goal of this prospective study was to use MRI to characterize a variety of focal splenic and hepatic lesions and to correlate these findings with histopathologic or cytologic diagnoses in order to determine both the feasibility and diagnostic accuracy of this imaging modality in veterinary patients.…”