title: Acute intervertebral disc extrusion in a cat: clinical and MRI findings.
abstract: A 5 year old, neutered male, domestic shorthaired cat had acute left hemiparesis and Horner's syndrome. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a loss of the normal signal from the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc at C3/4, narrowing of the ventral subarachnoid space and slight dorsal displacement of the spinal cord and a focal hyperintense lesion affecting the left side of the spinal cord at the same level. The presumptive diagnosis was focal spinal cord oedema associated with intervertebral disc extrusion. A traumatic aetiology was suspected. The cat was treated conservatively and improved gradually over a period of 6 months.
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mimms, Hertfordshire AL9 7TA, UK.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Lamb
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wesselingh
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Targett
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D002415:Cats / Q000293:injuries*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006732:Horner Syndrome / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D010291:Paresis / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D011859:Radiography