AGREEMENT BETWEEN T2 AND HASTE SEQUENCES IN THE EVALUATION OF THORACOLUMBAR INTERVERTEBRAL DISC DISEASE IN DOGS

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare half-Fourier-acquisition single-shot turbo spin-echo (HASTE) and T2-weighted (T2-W) sequences in dogs with thoracolumbar disc extrusion. MRI studies in 60 dogs (767 individual intervertebral disc spaces) were evaluated. Agreement between T2-W and HASTE sequences was assessed for two criteria: presence of an extradural lesion and treatment recommendation. There was moderate agreement between T2-W and HASTE sequences as to presence of an extradural lesion (kappa = 0.575). HASTE was in agreement in 96.1% of the sites where no extradural lesion was identified on T2-W images, but only in 58.1% of the sites where extradural lesions were identified on T2-W images. There was also moderate agreement between T2-W and HASTE sequences as to treatment recommendations (kappa = 0.476). HASTE was in agreement in 98.4% of the sites where a lesion was considered nonsurgical on T2 but only 82.1% of sites a lesion was considered surgical on T2. In 1.0% of sites considered not surgical and in 9.8% of sites considered equivocal based on T2-W images, a surgical lesion was identified on HASTE. Acquisition of a HASTE sequence in addition to conventional sequences may be beneficial in determining the severity of spinal cord compression in some cases when evaluating the canine spine.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging ( MRI ) Spinal Cord and Canal Measurements in Normal Dogs

“…Necropsy was not performed in any of these dogs, however, which would have been the gold standard to definitively rule out diffuse spinal cord disease. While this is a limitation of the study, it is a recognized and common problem in studies utilizing client owned animals (Morgan et al., 1987 ; Fourie and Kirberger, 1999 ; Hecht et al., 2009 ; Mankin et al., 2012 ). (5) Measurements were performed on sagittal rather than transverse images.…”

“…Imaging of the spine is commonly performed in the diagnostic work-up of cases in small animal practice. While a diagnosis of focal spinal cord lesions such as intervertebral disc herniation, fibrocartilaginous embolism and spinal neoplasia is usually readily accomplished by means of myelography, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (Drost et al., 1996 ; De Risio et al., 2009 ; Hecht et al., 2009 ; Nakamoto et al., 2009 ; Beltran et al., 2012 ; Mankin et al., 2012 ), imaging diagnosis of diffuse spinal cord diseases such as diffuse myelitis or degenerative disorders remains elusive (Gnirs, 2006 ; Tamura et al., 2007 ; Polizopoulou et al., 2008 ). A myelographic finding of a diffusely swollen cord has been reported in dogs with ascending myelomalacia (Lu et al., 2002 ).…”

Acute Spinal Cord Injury

“…The half-Fourier acquisition single-shot turbo spin-echo (HASTE) sequence has been found to poorly correlate with T2-weighted sequences in dogs with IVDH (ie, of 310 cases with a compression identified on T2-weighted scans, only 180 had a compression depicted by the HASTE sequence). 71 Diffusion tensor imaging (tractography) has also recently been proposed as a means to quantify SCI, and can provide information on specific tract and white matter damage. [72][73][74] Diffusion tensor imaging is a form of diffusion-weighted imaging that depicts the strength and direction of movement of water molecules, allowing axonal tracts and their physical integrity to be defined.…”

Evaluation of T2‐weighted versus short‐tau inversion recovery sagittal sequences in the identification and localization of canine intervertebral disc extrusion with low‐field magnetic resonance imaging

“…A–F). The accuracy of T2‐SAG has previously been compared to half‐Fourier‐acquisition single‐shot turbo spin‐echo during the diagnosis of intervertebral disc disease . To our knowledge however, no studies comparing the sensitivity of T2‐SAG and STIR‐SAG in the identification and localization of intervertebral disc disease have been published.…”