title: "Disk extension beyond the interspace": an investigation into an alternative nomenclature in diagnostic imaging for displaced canine intervertebral disk material.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Displacement of canine intervertebral disk material can be seen directly in diagnostic imaging modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomographic imaging. Canine intervertebral disk herniation can be differentiated into Hansen type 1 and 2 categories by clinical appearance, but anular- and nuclear disk material cannot be distinguished in computed tomographic images. Therefore, we hypothesized that the "Disk extension beyond the interspace"-nomenclature that describes the displacement by the disk contour might aid diagnosis. The aim of this study was to test the reliability of the "Disk extension beyond the interspace"-nomenclature in the evaluation of canine intervertebral disks via magnetic resonance and computed tomographic imaging.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Magnetic resonance and computed tomographic images of 144 intervertebral disks of 43 dogs were evaluated by 3 observers with different degrees of experience from 2 institutions retrospectively. A substantial intraobserver agreement was found, while interobserver agreement was fair to moderate with significant differences in evaluation. Comparison of imaging methods showed a fair to moderate agreement without statistically significant differences in evaluation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DEBIT-nomenclature cannot be recommended for veterinary clinical usage yet. The largest variability was found in the evaluation of the bulged canine intervertebral disk. The observers' experience and the imaging method influenced DEBIT- evaluation only slightly, while training and working at different institutions influenced DEBIT-evaluation strongly.
authors.affiliation: Small Animal Hospital, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 9, D-30559, Hannover, Germany. lisa.harder@tiho-hannover.de.
authors.forename: Lisa K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Harder
authors.affiliation: Small Animal Hospital, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 9, D-30559, Hannover, Germany. davina.claudia.ludwig@tiho-hannover.de.
authors.forename: Davina C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Ludwig
authors.affiliation: Small Animal Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, National University of Colombia, Carrera 30 45-03 (Ciudad Universitaria), Bogotá, Colombia. vgalindoz@unal.edu.co.
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Galindo-Zamora
authors.affiliation: Small Animal Hospital, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 9, D-30559, Hannover, Germany. ingo.nolte@tiho-hannover.de.
authors.forename: Ingo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nolte
authors.affiliation: Small Animal Hospital, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 9, D-30559, Hannover, Germany. wefstaedt@googlemail.com.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wefstaedt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D006801:Humans; D055959:Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000662:veterinary*; D015588:Observer Variation; D009626:Terminology as Topic