Low-field magnetic resonance imaging findings of the caudal portion of the cervical region in clinically normal Doberman Pinschers and Foxhounds

Decker, Steven De; Gielen, Ingrid; Duchateau, Luc; Soens, Iris Van; Bavegems, Valérie; Bosmans, Tim; Bree, Henri J. J. van; Ham, Luc M. L. Van

doi:10.2460/ajvr.71.4.428

Cited by 34 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 26 publications

(53 reference statements)

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“…The main site and any additional sites of compression were recorded. Each intervertebral space was graded as previously described 3,12 : 0, no compression; 1, partial subarachnoid space compression with no spinal cord compression; 2, complete subarachnoid space compression with no spinal cord compression; or 3, spinal cord compression. Spinal cord compression was further categorized on the basis of percentage reduction in spinal cord diameter as previously described 15 : mild (< 25%), moderate (25% to 50%), or severe (> 50%).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The intervertebral disk was assessed for protrusion on sagittal and transverse T1- and T2-weighted images and subjectively classified as normal or as having mild, moderate, or severe protrusion. 3,12 …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1–3 Magnetic resonance imaging is a very sensitive technique for determination of the extent of vertebral canal stenosis and spinal cord compression and yields the most information in regard to the neural tissue. 4–7 However, a well-recognized disadvantage of MRI in the human neurology field is the potential for overinterpretation.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As such, imaging of clinically normal subjects is important so that clinicians making treatment recommendations can recognize the frequency and spectrum of MRI abnormalities that may be seen in individuals without clinical signs. 4,7,9,11 In the veterinary literature, only a few studies 3,12 have investigated the presence of cervical vertebral column MRI abnormalities in clinically normal dogs. These studies 3,12 focused mostly on Doberman Pinschers, a breed in which disk-associated CSM is common, and revealed that neurologically normal Doberman Pinschers have a high prevalence of abnormalities evident on MRI, including intervertebral disk degeneration, spinal cord compression, and foraminal stenosis, alone or in combination.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…13 Consequently, results from studies of Doberman Pinschers cannot be extrapolated to Great Danes. In addition, 1 study 3 that included 20 clinically normal Doberman Pinschers found that the severity of disk degeneration and disk-associated compression in clinically normal dogs of this breed was significantly associated with increased age. The osseous-associated form of CSM predominantly affects young adult giant dog breeds, 13,14 in which an influence of age on MRI findings would not be expected.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Magnetic resonance imaging features of Great Danes with and without clinical signs of cervical spondylomyelopathy

Martín-Vaquero¹,

Costa²

2014

javma

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Objective To characterize and compare the MRI morphological features of the cervical vertebral column of Great Danes with and without clinical signs of cervical spondylomyelopathy (CSM). Design Prospective cohort study. Animals 30 Great Danes (15 clinically normal and 15 CSM-affected). Procedures All dogs underwent MRI of the cervical vertebral column (C2–3 through T1–2). Features evaluated included sites of subarachnoid space compression, spinal cord compression, or both; degree, cause, and direction of compression; MRI signal changes of the spinal cord; articular process (facet) joint characteristics; internal vertebral venous plexus visibility; and presence of extradural synovial cysts as well as presence and degree of intervertebral disk degeneration and foraminal stenosis. Results Clinically normal and CSM-affected dogs had 11 and 61 compressive sites, respectively, detected with MRI. All CSM-affected dogs had ≥ 1 site of spinal cord compression. No signal changes were observed in spinal cords of normal dogs, whereas 14 sites of hyperintensity were found in 9 CSM-affected dogs. Foraminal stenosis was present in 11 clinically normal and all CSM-affected dogs. The number of stenotic foraminal sites was significantly greater in the CSM-affected group, and severe stenosis appeared to be more common in this group than in the clinically normal group. Significant differences were identified between clinically normal and CSM-affected dogs with regard to amount of synovial fluid evident, regularity of articular surfaces, degree of articular process joint proliferation, and internal vertebral venous plexus visibility. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance Abnormalities were detected with MRI in several clinically normal Great Danes. Severe spinal cord compression, number of stenotic foraminal sites, and signal changes within the spinal cord distinguished CSM-affected from clinically normal Great Danes.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%