Vascular anomaly causing subclavian steal and cervical myelopathy in a dog: diagnosis and endovascular management.

Abstract

A 3-year-old dog with cervical myelopathy resulting from a vascular anomaly is described. Marked intradural-extramedullary spinal cord compression was observed, in association with multilevel ectatic anastomotic radicular arterial branches connecting the left and right vertebral arteries. A nonpatent proximal segment of the right subclavian artery had resulted in compensatory enlargement of the left vertebral artery. Flow within the right vertebral artery was retrograde and fed into the patent distal segment of the right subclavian artery. Multiple imaging techniques including myelography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and selective digital angiography were used to document this anomaly. To reduce spinal cord compression the largest collateral vessel was embolized without complication. Good clinical response was observed within 6 weeks and improved clinical neurologic function was maintained at the time of a 12-month re-evaluation.