J Vet Sci.  2015 Dec;16(4):543-545. 10.4142/jvs.2015.16.4.543.

Discal cysts of the cervical spine in two dogs

• Kang BJ
• Jung Y
• Park S
• Lee K

• KMID: 2133638
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4142/jvs.2015.16.4.543

Abstract

Discal cysts, which lie directly over intervertebral discs, are rare. Two old dogs with tetraparesis were referred to our facility. In both animals, magnetic resonance imaging revealed intraspinal extradural cystic mass lesions that were dorsal to degenerative intervertebral discs at the C3-C4 level. These lesions had low signal intensity on T1-weighted images, and high signal intensity on T2-weighted images. A ventral slot approach was used to perform surgical decompression, after which the symptoms improved remarkably. Discal cysts should be included in the differential diagnosis of dogs with cervical pain and tetraparesis. One effective treatment for discal cysts is surgical intervention.

Keyword

cervical spine; discal cyst; dog; magnetic resonance imaging

MeSH Terms

Animals
Decompression, Surgical
Diagnosis, Differential
Dogs*
Intervertebral Disc
Intervertebral Disc Degeneration
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Neck Pain
Spine*

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Transverse T2-weighted (A and B), T1-weighted (C and D), FLAIR (E and F) and post-contrast T1-weighted (G and H) magnetic resonance images of Dog 1 at C3-C4. On T2-weighted (A and B) and FLAIR (E and F) images, a cyst is visible as a hyperintense structure on the ventral floor of the canal, compressing the spinal cord. On T1-weighted images (C and D), the cyst is slightly hypointense relative to the spinal cord. After administration of contrast medium (G and H), the cyst demonstrates capsular enhancement surrounding the hypointense fluid (arrows).

• 

  Fig. 2 Sagittal (A) and transverse (B) T2-weighted magnetic resonance images of Dog 2 at C3-C4. The discal cyst is hyperintense compared to the spinal cord and clearly visible in the ventral aspect of the canal (arrows). The spinal cord is deviated dorsally by the discal cyst on the sagittal and axial views (arrowhead).

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