title: Spontaneous lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion in cats: literature review and case presentations.
abstract: Reports on intervertebral disc disease in cats are rare in the veterinary literature. It has been postulated that intervertebral disc protrusion is a frequent finding during necropsy in cats, without having any clinical relevance (King and Smith 1958, King & Smith 1960a, King & Smith 1960b). However, a total of six cases with disc protrusions and clinically significant neurological deficits have been reported over the past decade. (Heavner 1971, Seim & Nafe 1981, Gilmore 1983, Littlewood et al 1984, Sparkes & Skerry 1990, Bagley et al 1995). As in dogs, there are also two types of intervertebral disc disease in cats: Hansen's type I (extrusion), and type II (herniation). Cervical spinal cord involvement was more commonly recognised in cats than the lumbar or the thoraco lumbar area. Cats over 15 years were mainly affected (King & Smith 1958, King & Smith 1960a, King & Smith 1960b). We describe two cats with lumbar intervertebral disc protrusions. Emphasis is placed on differential diagnoses, treatment and follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Clinic for Small Animals, University of Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kathmann
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cizinauskas
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Rytz
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jaggy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D002415:Cats; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography