CT myelography of the thoraco-lumbar spine in 8 dogs with degenerative myelopathy.
- Author:
Jeryl C JONES
1
;
Karen D INZANA
;
John H ROSSMEISL
;
Robert L BERGMAN
;
Tana WELLS
;
Katherine BUTLER
Author Information
1. Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0442, USA. jcjones@vt.edu
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Comparative Study ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Keywords:
CT myelography;
degenerative myelopathy;
dog;
spinal stenosis;
spinal cord atrophy
- MeSH:
Animals;
Dog Diseases/*radiography;
Dogs;
Female;
Lumbar Vertebrae/radiography;
Male;
Myelography/*veterinary;
Spinal Cord Diseases/radiography/*veterinary;
Thoracic Vertebrae/radiography;
Tomography, X-Ray Computed/*veterinary
- From:Journal of Veterinary Science
2005;6(4):341-348
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
CT myelography of the T11-L2 region was performed in 8 large-breed dogs with a clinical diagnosis of degenerative myelopathy (DM) and 3 large-breed dogs that were clinically normal. CT myelographic characteristics were recorded for each dog, at each disc level. Area measurements of the spinal cord, dural sac, vertebral canal, and vertebral body were recorded at 4 slice locations for each disc level. Mean area ratios were calculated and graphically compared, by slice location and group. In all dogs, CT myelography identified morphologic abnormalities that were not suspected from conventional myelograms. Characteristics observed with higher frequency in DM versus normal dogs were: spinal stenosis, disc protrusion, focal attenuation of the subarachnoid space, spinal cord deformity, small spinal cord, and paraspinal muscle atrophy. Mean spinal cord: dural sac, spinal cord: vertebral canal, dural sac: vertebral canal, and vertebral canal:vertebral body ratios were smaller in DM versus normal dogs at more than one disc level. Some CT myelographic characteristics in DM dogs were similar to those previously reported in humans, dogs and horses with stenotic myelopathy.
