CT findings of thoracolumbar spine lesions in dogs

In veterinary medicine, computed tomography (CT) is one of the most commonly used methods for imaging the spine because it provides a detailed examination of the spinal cord and surrounding tissues. The aim of this study was to assess thoracolumbar lesions in a number of dogs studied during the year 2011. There were retrospectively evaluated CT studies from 30 dogs of different breeds (mean age= 6.23 years) presented at the Interdepartmental Center of Radiology in the period January - December 2011, with suspected thoracolumbar vertebral or spinal cord lesions. The CT studies were performed without contrast medium in 27 patients, with contrast medium in subarachnoid space (CT- myelography) in two dogs, and in two patients before and after i.v. administration of contrast medium (Iopamidol 370mgl/ml). In one dog both intravenous and subarachnoid administration of contrast medium were used. There were found 46 disc herniations, 10 degenerative spondylopathies, 5 vertebral malformations, 4 vertebral neoplasia, 4 disc degenerations (mineralization and/or vacuum phenomenon), 4 subdural and epidural hemorrhages, 2 spinal cord degenerations (degenerative myelopathy), 2 radicular neoplasia and 2 discospondylitis. In our sample, there was a prevalence of intervertebral disc herniation and in many cases the same dog showed multiple localizations. Usually, disc herniations were clearly visible without contrast medium, causing different degrees of spinal cord compression. In conclusion, CT demonstrated to be a valuable diagnostic tool for detection and characterization of thoracolumbar spinal lesions in dogs.