title: Association of cauda equina compression on magnetic resonance images and clinical signs in dogs with degenerative lumbosacral stenosis.
abstract: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to examine the lumbosacral spine of 27 dogs with degenerative lumbosacral stenosis. Four normal dogs were also similarly imaged. Compression of the soft-tissue structures within the vertebral canal at the lumbosacral space was assessed in two ways: by measuring dorsoventral diameter on T1-weighted sagittal images and cross-sectional area on transverse images. The severity of the clinical signs was compared to the severity of cauda equina compression. No significant correlation was found. It is concluded that degree of compression as determined by MRI at time of presentation is independent of disease severity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Philipp D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Mayhew
authors.forename: Amy S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Kapatkin
authors.forename: Jeffrey A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Wortman
authors.forename: Charles H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Vite
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002420:Cauda Equina; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D010414:Pennsylvania / Q000453:epidemiology; D011996:Records / Q000662:veterinary; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*