Computed Tomography Myelographic Findings in Dogs With Cervical Spondylomyelopathy

Abstract

Computed tomography (CT) myelography is used occasionally in the diagnosis of cervical spondylomyelopathy, but the type of lesion found in large- versus giant-breed dogs using this modality has not been characterized. Our purpose was to report the frequency of compressive lesions in large- and giant-breed dogs with cervical spondylomyelopathy and imaged using CT myelography. Fifty-eight dogs were retrospectively studied, 23 large-breed and 35 giant-breed dogs. Multiple sites of compression were found in 12 large-breed dogs (52.2%) compared to 30 (85.8%) giant-breed dogs. The main site of compression was at C5-6 and C6-7 in both large-breed (91.3%) and giant-breed (72.4%) dogs. The main cause and direction of compression was disc-associated and ventral in 19 (82.6%) of the large-breed dogs while osseous changes were the primary cause of compression in 27 (77.2%) of the giant-breed dogs, with most compressions being lateral (51.4%), followed by dorsolateral (14.2%). Osseous compression was observed at C7-T1 in eight giant-breed dogs (22.8%), and at T1-T2 or T2 only in five dogs (14.3%). Four of 23 large-breed dogs (17.4%), and seven (20%) of 35 giant-breed dogs had spinal cord atrophy. Therefore, giant-breed dogs often have multiple compressions, usually caused by osseous changes causing lateralized compressions. In large-breed dogs most compressions are disc-associated and located ventrally. Considering the number of giant-breed dogs with compressions at C7-T1, T1-2, and T2, it is important to include the cranial thoracic region when imaging dogs suspected of having cervical spondylomyelopathy.

Myelographic diagnosis and results of surgical treatment of caudal cervical spondylomyelopathy in dogs: a retrospective study (2000–2010)

“…Given the average age of dogs with clinically examined CCSM disease (7.1 years in this study), the financial cost and possible accompanying disease, only some dogs undergo complete diagnosis with diagnostic imaging methods (69.6% of dogs in our case). Distribution and localization of the spinal cord compression type was similar to literary sources (Da Costa et al 2012). Almost in half of the cases (43.8%) disease affected multiple sites of the cervical spine simultaneously.…”

“…Firstly, it affects juvenile giant breed dogs (typically the Great Dane) with the congenital absolute osseous compression causing a narrowing of the spinal canal or with vertebral malarticulation. This osseousassociated wobbler syndrome commonly affects more intervertebral spaces and sites of the lesions often lead to multiple serious compressions (Da Costa et al 2012). Secondly, it affects middle-aged large breed dogs (typically the Doberman pinscher) with congenital asymptomatic relative spinal canal stenosis (predisposition factor) causing subsequent degenerative changes of the intervertebral disc and surrounding soft tissues.…”

Osseous associated cervical spondylomyelopathy at the C2‐C3 articular facet joint in 11 dogs

“…It has been reported that 25–50 per cent of large breed dogs and up to 80 per cent of giant breed dogs with CSM have multiple compressive lesions (McKee and others 1999, da Costa and others 2012). Dogs in the present study were excluded when concurrent lesions were identified in order to be able to evaluate the outcome of these patients without having other contributing factors that could influence response to treatment; five dogs were identified with multiple sites of compression and this would account for 22 per cent of the total number of cases.…”

Cytokine Concentrations in the Cerebrospinal Fluid of Great Danes with Cervical Spondylomyelopathy

“…All of the sagittal and transverse images available for every intervertebral space were subjectively evaluated to determine the sites of SC compression and presence of SC signal changes. SC compression was graded as previously described:18 mild (<25% reduction in the SC diameter), moderate (25–50% reduction), and severe (>50% reduction in the SC diameter). If more than 1 grade of severity of SC compression was present in the same dog, the most severe grade was used for statistical analysis.…”