Article Review 6

Authors’ Names

Ronaldo C. Da Costa, Joane Parent, Howard Donson, David Holmberg, Gary Partlow

Article Title

Comparison of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Myelography in 18 Doberman Pinscher Dogs with Cervical Spondylomelopathy

Journal Name

Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound, Vol. 47

1. Bibliography

DA COSTA, R. C., PARENT, J., DOBSON, H., HOLMBERG, D., & PARTLOW, G. (2006). COMPARISON OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING AND MYELOGRAPHY IN 18 DOBERMAN PINSCHER DOGS WITH CERVICAL SPONDYLOMYELOPATHY. Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound, 47(6), 523–531. doi:10.1111/j.1740-8261.2006.00180.x

2. Purpose of the article

The purpose of this article was to compare the findings of the diagnosis of cervical myelopathy in Doberman Pinscher dogs by using Magnetic Resonance Imaging and myelography.

3. Brief Description of Procedure and Findings/Results

Traction myelography was performed using a cervical harness exerting 9kg of linear traction. MR imaging was performed in sagittal, transverse, and dorsal planes using a 1.5T magnet with the spine in neutral and traction positions. Three reviewers independently evaluated the myelographic and MR images to determine the most extensive lesion and whether the lesion was static or dynamic. All reviewers agreed with the location of the most extensive lesion on MR images (100%), while the agreement using myelography was 83%. The myelogram and MR imaging findings agreed in the identification of the affected site in 13–16 dogs depending on the reviewer. MR imaging provided additional information on lesion location because it allowed direct examination of the spinal cord diameter and parenchyma. Spinal cord signal changes were seen in 10 dogs. Depending on the reviewer, two to four dogs had their lesions classified as dynamic on myelography but static on MR images. Myelography markedly underscored the severity of the spinal cord compression in two dogs, and failed to identify the cause of the signs in another. The results of this study indicated that, although myelography can identify the location of the lesion in most patients, MR imaging appears to be more accurate in predicting the site, severity, and nature of the spinal cord compression.

4. Conclusions and Comments

All three reviewers had 100% agreement on the site of the lesion using MR imaging, whereas discrepancies existed using myelography. A distinct advantage of MR imaging is the ability to assess the spinal cord parenchyma, while on myelography, only the spinal cord contour is seen. This advantage allowed visualization of signal changes in the spinal cord parenchyma and precise lesion localization. In summary, it is documented that MR imaging allows identification of more abnormalities than cervical myelography in Dobermans pinscher dogs with cervical spondylomyelopathy. Although myelography could identify the location of the lesion in most patients, MR imaging was more accurate in predicting the site, severity, and nature of spinal cord compression. Also, spinal cord signal changes were seen in the majority of patients. The distinction between dynamic and static lesions is currently unclear, subjective, and dependent on personal opinion

5. The opinion of the article

I found this article is helpful in giving information about the findings or outcomes from myelography and magnetic resonance imaging. Both can give details about the location of the lesion, characteristics and severity of the abnormality. However, magnetic resonance imaging is proved as more accurate and should be used in the diagnosis of cervical myelopathy as it could identify and characterize the lesion more detail and specific.