Morphologic and morphometric magnetic resonance imaging features of Doberman Pinschers with and without clinical signs of cervical spondylomyelopathy

Abstract

The incidence of intervertebral disk degeneration and foraminal stenosis in clinically normal Doberman Pinschers was high; cervical spinal cord compression may be present without concurrent clinical signs. A combination of static factors (ie, a relatively stenotic vertebral canal and wider intervertebral disks) distinguished CSM-affected dogs from clinically normal dogs and appears to be a key feature in the pathogenesis of CSM.

Cervical spondylomyelopathy in dogs

“…The variables that can be assessed by means of this technique include the degree of disc degeneration, disc-associated compression, vertebral body abnormalities, new bone formation, the degree of foramina stenosis and intra-parenchymal signal changes. Contrary to myelography and computed tomography-myelography, magnetic resonance imaging is non-invasive and allows the detection of signal changes in the spinal cord and, thus, assessment of cord parenchyma (da Costa et al, 2006a). In a study on 18 Dobermans with clinical signs suggestive of cervical spondylomyelopathy, da Costa et al (2006b) found that magnetic resonance imaging appeared to have been more accurate in predicting site, severity and nature of the spinal cord compression compared to cervical myelography.…”

“…Nevertheless, caution must be exercised when attributing clinical signs to structural abnormalities seen on magnetic resonance imaging, since relevant abnormalities have also be seen in normal dogs, underlying the possibility for erroneous positive clinical interpretations (da Costa et al, 2006a;De Decker et al, 2010). So, confidence that an abnormality observed in magnetic resonance imaging is responsible for the clinical signs depends primarily on the degree of correspondence between the site of the lesion and the neuroanatomical localization (Viteet al, 2011).…”

“…This is sometimes complicated with a dorsolateral compression caused by the hypertrophied ligamentum flavum. In Doberman breed dogs, it has been reported that intervertebral disc degeneration and cord compression demonstrated in magnetic resonance imaging is not always associated with clinical signs (da Costa 2006a;De Deckeret al, 2010). This is in accord with studies performed in Bernese Mountain dogs, which suggests that compressive lesions detected in imaging may not be the sole mechanism in the pathogenesis of disc associated cervical spondylomyelopathy (Eagleson et al, 2009;De Decker et al, 2010).…”

“…threshold at which cumulative effects of the various encroaching structures of the spinal cord can cause compression, increasing the risk of the animal to developing myelopathy (da Costa et al, 2006a).…”

“…Absence of large, well-controlled clinical studies with adequate follow-up times and similar protocols poses difficulties in comparison of results reported. Lately, there is a concern about the clinical importance of the findings of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in cervical spondylomyelopathy cases, showing that the experience in interpreting images of those modalities has to be increased (da Costa et al, 2006a). Objective of this review article is to inform clinical veterinarians about the current trends in diagnosis and the decision making process regarding dogs affected by this multifactorial neurological syndrome.…”