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MRI FEATURES OF CERVICAL ARTICULAR PROCESS DEGENERATIVE JOINT DISEASE IN G REAT D ANE DOGS WITH CERVICAL SPONDYLOMYELOPATHY
Author(s) -
GutierrezQuintana Rodrigo,
Penderis Jacques
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
veterinary radiology and ultrasound
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.541
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1740-8261
pISSN - 1058-8183
DOI - 10.1111/j.1740-8261.2011.01912.x
Subject(s) - medicine , spinal cord , degenerative disease , anatomy , cervical spondylosis , spinal stenosis , cervical vertebrae , stenosis , lumbar , surgery , pathology , radiology , central nervous system disease , alternative medicine , psychiatry
Cervical spondylomyelopathy or W obbler syndrome commonly affects the cervical vertebral column of G reat D ane dogs. Degenerative changes affecting the articular process joints are a frequent finding in these patients; however, the correlation between these changes and other features of cervical spondylomyelopathy are uncertain. We described and graded the degenerative changes evident in the cervical articular process joints from 13 G reat D anes dogs with cervical spondylomyelopathy using MR imaging, and evaluated the relationship between individual features of cervical articular process joint degeneration and the presence of spinal cord compression, vertebral foraminal stenosis, intramedullary spinal cord changes, and intervertebral disc degenerative changes. Degenerative changes affecting the articular process joints were common, with only 13 of 94 (14%) having no degenerative changes. The most severe changes were evident between C4–C5 and C7–T1 intervertebral spaces. Reduction or loss of the hyperintense synovial fluid signal on T 2‐weighted MR images was the most frequent feature associated with articular process joint degenerative changes. Degenerative changes of the articular process joints affecting the synovial fluid or articular surface, or causing lateral hypertrophic tissue, were positively correlated with lateral spinal cord compression and vertebral foraminal stenosis. Dorsal hypertrophic tissue was positively correlated with dorsal spinal cord compression. Disc‐associated spinal cord compression was recognized less frequently.