title: Myelography vs. computed tomography in the evaluation of acute thoracolumbar intervertebral disk extrusion in chondrodystrophic dogs.
abstract: Myelography and/or computed tomography (CT) are commonly used to evaluate acute intervertebral disk extrusion in chondrodystrophic dogs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity of myelography and two different CT protocols in determining level and lateralization of acute thoracolumbar intervertebral disk extrusion in comparison with surgical findings, investigate interobserver variability, and determine examination duration times. Results of conventional CT, helical CT, and myelography were compared with surgical findings in 19 chondrodystrophic dogs with acute thoracolumbar intervertebral disk extrusion. Agreement among investigators was determined for different imaging modalities, and examination times were recorded. In the diagnosis of level of disk extrusion there was agreement of myelography, conventional CT, and helical CT with surgical findings in 94.7%, 100%, and 94.7% of dogs, respectively (P = 0.144). In the diagnosis of level and lateralization of disk extrusion there was agreement of myelography, conventional CT, and helical CT with surgical findings in 78.9%, 87.4%, and 85.3% of dogs, respectively (P = 0.328). Interobserver agreement was very good for all imaging modalities (myelography K = 0.87; conventional CT K = 0.86; helical CT K = 0.95). There were significant differences in median examination duration times between helical CT (4 min), conventional CT (8 min), and myelography (32 min) (P < 0.001). Both helical and conventional CT appear to be accurate for evaluation of acute thoracolumbar intervertebral disk extrusion in chondrodystrophic dogs and are faster to perform than myelography.
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, C 247 Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Knoxville, TN 37996-4544, USA. shecht@utk.edu
authors.forename: Silke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hecht
authors.forename: William B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Katia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Marioni-Henry
authors.forename: Rita L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Echandi
authors.forename: Andrea R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Matthews
authors.forename: William H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Adams
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004285:Dogs; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D009192:Myelography / Q000662:veterinary*; D010009:Osteochondrodysplasias / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000662:veterinary*