Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
MRI comparison for thoracolumbar disc disease in small-breed dogs
By Lee, Suhyeon et al.·Published in Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association·2022·Department of Veterinary Medical Imaging, South Korea·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Comparison between T2-weighted two-dimensional and three-dimensional fast spin-echo MRI sequences for characterizing thoracolumbar intervertebral disc disease in small-breed dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of small breed dogs with back pain due to intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) underwent MRI scans using two different techniques. The study found that the three-dimensional MRI method provided clearer images and better details about the condition of the spine compared to the two-dimensional method. This means that vets can get a more accurate picture of the dog's spinal health, which can help in planning treatment. The results suggest that using the 3D MRI technique is more effective for diagnosing and assessing IVDD in small dogs.
People also search for: small dog back pain MRI · intervertebral disc disease treatment · 3D MRI for dogs spine
Abstract
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a standard test for diagnosis and treatment planning in dogs with degenerative thoracolumbar intervertebral disc disease (IVDD). However, published studies evaluating three-dimensional fast-spin echo (3D-FSE) pulse sequences for dogs with IVDD are currently limited. Aims of this retrospective, observational study were to compare findings from T2-weighted two- and three-dimensional fast spin-echo sequences (2D- and 3D-FSE, respectively) for a group of small breed dogs with thoracolumbar IVDD. Inclusion criteria were dogs with IVDD that underwent 1.5-Tesla MRI using both 2D-FSE and 3D-FSE sequences. For each dog and sequence, five pathologic indices were recorded: epidural fat discontinuation, vertebral canal compromise, spinal cord signal change, disc degeneration, and nerve root compression. Two independent investigators also scored visibility of the facet joint, intervertebral foramen, nerve roots, spinal cord grey-white matter differentiation, intervertebral discs, and epidural fat. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to evaluate the between-sequence differences in pathologic indices and visibility scores. Interobserver agreement was measured using Cohen's weighted kappa along with 95% confidence intervals. A total of 21 dogs were sampled. The 3D-FSE sequences had higher pathologic indices of vertebral canal compromise (P = 0.020) and spinal cord signal change (P = 0.046) than 2D-FSE sequences. Furthermore, 3D-FSE sequences had higher visibility scores for the facet joint, intervertebral foramen, and nerve root structures (P < 0.001). Findings from the current supported the use of 3D-FSE sequences over 2D-FSE sequences for the evaluation of IVDD and visualization of spinal structures in small breed dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35023239/