J Vet Sci.  2018 Mar;19(2):296-300. 10.4142/jvs.2018.19.2.296.

Novel vertebral computed tomography indices in normal and spinal disorder dogs

• Lim J
• Yoon Y
• Hwang T
• Lee HC

• KMID: 2407629
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4142/jvs.2018.19.2.296

Abstract

This study was carried out to derive and evaluate reference computed tomography (CT)-based indices for normal canine spine. CT and magnetic resonance images were acquired from 12 clinically normal Beagle dogs (normal group) and 50 dogs with 56 spinal disorders (patient group). Image acquisition regions were cervical spine (C2-T1), thoracic spine (T1-T13), and lumbar spine (L1-L7). Measured indices were: the ratios of width to height of the spinal cord including the dura matter (CR) and of the vertebral foramen (FR), and the ratio of the cross-sectional area of the spinal cord to that of the vertebral foramen (CFAR). Reliability analysis was performed to evaluate intermodality agreement. Student's t-tests and receiver operating characteristic curves were used to discriminate the normal and patient groups on CT. Intermodality agreements of the normal and patient groups were acceptable to excellent. The highest discriminating levels of CR at the vertebral body level and the intervertebral disc space level were 1.25 or more and 1.44 or more, respectively. FR and CFAR had the highest discriminating level at the cervical region. This report presents quantitative information on canine spinal morphometry; the obtained indices may be helpful for CT screening of dogs with spinal disorders.

Keyword

computed tomography; dogs; magnetic resonance imaging; vertebral disease

MeSH Terms

Animals
Dogs*
Humans
Intervertebral Disc
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Mass Screening
ROC Curve
Spinal Cord
Spine

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Method of measuring the variables. The ratios of width to height of the spinal cord (A and D) and of the vertebral foramen (B) were obtained. (C) The ratio of cross-sectional area of the spinal cord (asterisk) to that of the vertebral foramen (arrow) was measured. All measurements were obtained at the vertebral body level (A–C) or intervertebral disc space level (D).

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