Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
MRI scans show spinal cord changes in dogs with disk herniation
By Shinn, Richard L et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2020·Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Magnetization transfer and diffusion tensor imaging in dogs with intervertebral disk herniation.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 51 dogs with back problems caused by intervertebral disk herniation (IVDH) underwent advanced MRI scans to assess their spinal cord health. The study found that dogs with more severe neurological symptoms had different MRI measurements compared to those with milder symptoms. Specifically, certain MRI values indicated more serious spinal cord injury, which could help veterinarians better understand the severity of the condition. This information can be useful alongside a physical exam to determine the best treatment options for affected dogs.
People also search for: dog back pain treatment · intervertebral disk herniation in dogs · MRI for dog spinal injury
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (QMRI) techniques of magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) provide microstructural information about the spinal cord. OBJECTIVE: Compare neurologic grades using the modified Frankel scale with MTR and DTI measurements in dogs with thoracolumbar intervertebral disk herniation (IVDH). ANIMALS: Fifty-one dogs with thoracolumbar IVDH. METHODS: Prospective cohort study. Quantitative MRI measurements of the spinal cord were obtained at the region of compression. A linear regression generalized estimating equations model was used to compare QMRI measurements between different neurological grades after adjusting for age, weight, duration of clinical signs, and lesion location. RESULTS: Grade 5 (.79  ×  10mm/s [median], .43-.91 [range]) and axial (1.47 × 10mm/s, .58-1.8) diffusivity were lower compared to grades 2 (1.003, .68-1.36; P = .02 and 1.81 × 10mm/s, 1.36-2.12; P < .001, respectively) and 3 (1.07 × 10mm/s, .77-1.5; P = .04 and 1.92 × 10mm/s, 1.83-2.37;P < .001, respectively). Compared to dogs with acute myelopathy, chronic myelopathy was associated with higher mean (1.02 × 10mm/s, .77-1.36 vs. .83 × 10mm/s, .64-1.5; P = .03) and radial diffusivity (.75 × 10mm/s, .38-1.04 vs. .44 × 10mm/s, .22-1.01; P = .008) and lower MTR (46.76, 31.8-56.43 vs. 54.4, 45.2-62.27; P = .004) and fractional anisotropy (.58, .4-0.75 vs. .7, .46-.85; P = .02). Fractional anisotropy was lower in dogs with a T2-weighted intramedullary hyperintensity compared to those without (.7, .45-.85 vs. .54, .4-.8; P = .01). CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Mean diffusivity and AD could serve as surrogates of severity of spinal cord injury and are complementary to the clinical exam in dogs with thoracolumbar IVDH.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33006411/