Abstract:
Computed tomography (CT) is commonly used to image intervertebral disc extrusion
(IVDE) in dogs. The current gold standard for CT imaging is the use of multi-slice CT
(MS CT) units. Smaller high-definition volumetric imaging (HDVI) mobile CT has
been marketed for veterinary practice. This unit is described as an advanced flat panel. The
goal of this manuscript was to evaluate the ability of the HDVI CT in detecting IVDE
without the need for CT myelography, compared with the detection of acute disc
extrusions with a MS CT without the need for MS CT myelogram. Retrospective blinded
analyses of 219 dogs presented for thoraco-lumbar IVDE that had a HDVI CT (n = 123) or
MS CT (n = 96) were performed at a single referral hospital. A total of 123 cases had HDVI
CT scans with surgically confirmed IVDE. The IVDE was identified in 88/123 (72%) dogs
on pre-contrast HDVI CT. The remaining 35/128 (28%) cases required a HDVI CT myelogram
to identify the IVDE. Ninety-six cases had MS CT scans with surgically confirmed IVDE.
The IVDE was identified in 78/96 (81%) dogs on the pre-contrast MS CT. The remaining
18/96 (19%) cases had a MS CT myelogram to identify the IVDE. Multi-slice CT
detected IVDE significantly more than HDVI CT (p = 0.032). This study showed that the
ability of HDVI CT for detecting IVDE is lower than that of MS CT. The HDVI CT
system may be useful in smaller referral practices, with a lower case load where space is
limited.
