Comparison of diagnostic values of advanced imaging techniques and electrodiagnostic procedures in the assessment of cervical spinal cord disorders in dogs. A preliminary study

The retrospective study was designed to compare the diagnostic value of computed radiography, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, and electrodiagnostic procedures like brainstem evoked potentials and somatosensory evoked potentials in cervical spinal cord diseases in dogs; including wobbler syndrome, intervertebral disc disease, trauma, neoplasma, and syringomelia. Thirty-one dogs with cervical spine and spinal cord disorders were chosen during 2007-2009. All patients were clinically and neurologically examined, also laboratory tests like blood, and urine profile were done. Subsequently value of each diagnostic procedure was assessed individually and in comparison to others. MRI was found to be the most valuable diagnostic imaging technique in cervical spinal cord diseases, when compared with myelography, X-ray, and CT. It showed a 100 % accuracy in diagnosis of IVDD, neoplasm, syringomyelia, and wobbler syndrome. Among the elctrodiagnostic procedures, SSEP is superior to BAER technique. It is extremely helpful in IVDD, wobbler syndrome, neoplasm, and syringomyelia diagnosis. BAER showed usefulness in wobbler syndrome and syringomyelia diagnosis.