title: Cervical vertebral malformation-malarticulation syndrome in the Bernese mountain dog: clinical and magnetic resonance imaging features.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the clinical and magnetic resonance imaging features of cervical vertebral malformation-malarticulation in Bernese mountain dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven Bernese mountain dogs (four males and three females) were diagnosed with cervical vertebral malformation-malarticulation by magnetic resonance imaging. The following data were evaluated retrospectively: (1) abnormalities of the cervical vertebral column and spinal cord, (2) spinal cord compression, (3) intervertebral disc degeneration and herniation, (4) severity of clinical signs pretreatment and after treatment, (5) type of treatment and (6) outcome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Spin echo T1-weighted and T2-weighted images disclosed multi-level, extradural compressive spinal cord lesions (ventral, dorsolateral or both) spanning from intervertebral disc spaces C3-4 to C6-7. In all seven dogs, T2-weighted images disclosed one or more intramedullary hyperintensities associated with extradural spinal cord compression. Surgery was performed in five dogs. Two dogs were managed medically. The prognosis for surgical or conservative management in Bernese mountain dogs was similar to cervical vertebral malformation-malarticulation in other breeds.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cervical vertebral malformation-malarticulation is an important differential diagnosis for young to middle-aged Bernese mountain dogs with a C1-5 or C6-T2 neuroanatomic localisation. Dorsolateral spinal cord compression associated with articular process hypertrophy was the most common feature of cervical vertebral malformation-malarticulation in the seven Bernese mountain dogs evaluated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, 501 DW Brooks Drive, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Eagleson
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Diaz
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Platt
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kent
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Levine
authors.forename: N J H
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Sharp
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Schatzberg