title: Computed tomographic evaluation of cervical vertebral canal and spinal cord morphometry in normal dogs.
abstract: The height, width, and cross-sectional area of the vertebral canal and spinal cord along with the area ratio of spinal cord to vertebral canal in the cervical vertebra were evaluated in images obtained using computed tomography (CT). Measurements were taken at the cranial, middle, and caudal point of each cervical vertebra in eight clinically normal small breed dogs (two Shih Tzu, two Miniature Schnauzers, and four mixed breed), 10 Beagles, and four German Shepherds. CT myelography facilitated the delineation of the epidural space, subarachnoid space, and spinal cord except at the caudal portion of the 7th cervical vertebra. The spinal cord had a tendency to have a clear ventral border in the middle portion of the vertebral canal and lateral borders near both end plates. The height, width, and area of the vertebral canal and spinal cord in the cervical vertebra were increased as the size of dog increased. However, the ratio of the spinal cord area to vertebral canal area in the small dogs was higher than that of the larger dogs. Results of the present study could provide basic and quantitative information for CT evaluation of pathologic lesions in the cervical vertebra and spinal cord.
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine and the Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea.
authors.forename: Eunjeong
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: Jihye
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Mincheol
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Junghee
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yoon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049628:Body Size; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004285:Dogs / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000254:growth & development; D012016:Reference Values; D013115:Spinal Canal / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000662:veterinary*
keywords: cervical vertebra; computed tomography; dog; spinal cord; vertebral canal