Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Vacuum phenomenon on CT scans in dogs with disc herniation
By Müller, M K et al.·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2013·Department of Small Animal Medicine, Germany·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: The vacuum phenomenon in intervertebral disc disease of dogs based on computed tomography images.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs with suspected back problems underwent CT scans to check for a condition called the vacuum phenomenon, which can indicate disc degeneration and herniation. The study found that while the vacuum phenomenon was present in about 20% of the dogs, it was not a reliable indicator of whether a disc was currently herniated and causing neurological issues. In fact, the correlation between the vacuum phenomenon and actual herniated discs varied significantly among different breeds and ages. This means that while the vacuum phenomenon can suggest disc issues, it shouldn't be solely relied upon for diagnosing herniated discs in dogs.
People also search for: dog back pain symptoms · vacuum phenomenon in dogs · dog herniated disc treatment · CT scan for dog back problems · intervertebral disc disease in dogs
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Vacuum phenomenon is suspected to be indicative of disc degeneration and subsequent herniation. The objective of this study was to assess the reliability of vacuum phenomenon for identification of herniated discs causing neurological signs. Prevalence of vacuum phenomenon and influencing factors in dogs with disc herniation were determined. METHODS: Retrospective review of computed tomography scans from dogs with suspected disc herniation for the presence of gas within intervertebral disc space with subsequent comparison of vacuum phenomenon and herniated disc as confirmed by surgery. Subgroups were created (chondrodystrophic, non-chondrodystrophic and unknown classification) to analyse prevalence and influencing factors (age, breed and gender) for vacuum phenomenon and agreement with herniated disc. RESULTS: Prevalence of vacuum phenomenon in all dogs, chondrodystrophic, non-chondrodystrophic dogs and those with unknown classification was 19·8, 14·9, 35·7 and 24·5%, respectively. Corresponding correlation rate between vacuum phenomenon and herniated disc was 64, 67, 40 and 82%. Prevalence of vacuum phenomenon was significantly higher in nonchondrodystrophic dogs (P=0·04). Age was the only factor influencing prevalence of vacuum phenomenon (P=0·04). CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: In dogs with intervertebral disc disease, vacuum phenomenon is a frequent but inconsistent finding. Although helpful to identify degenerated discs, it is not suitable to identify currently herniated disc with sufficient accuracy.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23565773/