Agreement between computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and surgical findings in dogs with degenerative lumbosacral stenosis.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the extent of agreement between computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and surgical findings in dogs with degenerative lumbosacral stenosis.


METHODS
Observational study.


METHODS
35 dogs with degenerative lumbosacral stenosis.


METHODS
Results of preoperative CT and MRI were compared with surgical findings with respect to degree and location of disk protrusion, position of the dural sac, amount of epidural fat, and swelling of spinal nerve roots.


RESULTS
A lumbosacral step was seen on radiographic images from 22 of 32 (69%) dogs, on CT images from 23 of 35 (66%) dogs, and on MR images from 21 of 35 (60%) dogs. Most dogs had slight or moderate disk protrusion that was centrally located. There was substantial or near perfect agreement between CT and MRI findings in regard to degree of disk protrusion (kappa, 0.88), location of disk protrusion (0.63), position of the dural sac (0.89), amount of epidural fat (0.72), and swelling of spinal nerve roots (0.60). The degree of agreement between CT and surgical findings and between MRI and surgical findings was moderate in regard to degree and location of disk protrusion (kappa, 0.44 to 0.56) and swelling of spinal nerve roots (0.40 and 0.50).


CONCLUSIONS
Results indicate that there is a high degree of agreement between CT and MRI findings in dogs with degenerative lumbosacral stenosis but that the degree of agreement between diagnostic imaging findings and surgical findings is lower.
Suwankong
Niyada
N
Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, 3508 TD Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Voorhout
George
G
Hazewinkel
Herman A W
HA
Meij
Björn P
BP
D000818:Animals; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008161:Lumbosacral Region; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots / Q000473:pathology; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards / Q000662:veterinary*