title: Hydrated nucleus pulposus herniation in seven dogs.
abstract: The clinical signs, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, treatment and follow-up in seven dogs with hydrated nucleus pulposus extrusion (HNPE) are reported. All dogs had tetraparesis or tetraplegia. T2-weighted MRI revealed extradural hyperintense homogeneous material compressing the cervical spinal cord. After conservative treatment (five dogs) or surgical decompression (two dogs), all dogs returned to ambulatory function within 1 month. Follow-up MRI in conservatively treated dogs revealed complete disappearance of the extruded material. Histopathological examination of surgical specimens confirmed that the retrieved material was extruded nucleus pulposus with evidence of early degeneration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy. Electronic address: lmanu@uniss.it.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Manunta
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Evangelisti
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bergknut
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: G C M
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Grinwis
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ballocco
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: B P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Meij
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Canine; Hydrated nucleus pulposus extrusion; Intervertebral disc degeneration; Magnetic resonance imaging