Signalment, Clinical Presentation, and Diagnostic Findings in 122 Dogs with Spinal Arachnoid Diverticula

• Published in: Journal of veterinary internal medicine 2014-01, Vol.28 (1), p.175-181
• Main Authors: Mauler, D.A, De Decker, S, De Risio, L, Volk, H.A, Dennis, R, Gielen, I, Van der Vekens, E, Goethals, K, Van Ham, L
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Arachnoid Cysts - diagnosis; Arachnoid Cysts - pathology; Arachnoid Cysts - veterinary; body weight; Brain diseases; Case reports; Cerebrospinal fluid; Cervical Vertebrae - pathology; computed tomography; Cysts; Dog; Dog Diseases - diagnosis; Dog Diseases - pathology; Dogs; Fecal incontinence; Female; image analysis; Logistic Models; magnetic resonance imaging; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - veterinary; Male; Myelography - veterinary; Original; Retrospective Studies; Rottweiler; Spinal arachnoid cyst; Spinal arachnoid diverticulum; Spinal cord; Spinal Cord Diseases - diagnosis; Spinal Cord Diseases - pathology; Spinal Cord Diseases - veterinary; Thoracic Vertebrae - pathology; Tomography, X-Ray Computed - veterinary; Ultrasonic imaging
• ISSN: 0891-6640; 1939-1676
• DOI: 10.1111/jvim.12241

BACKGROUND: Most information about spinal arachnoid diverticula (SADs) in dogs has been retrieved from relatively small case series. The aim of this study was to describe this disease in a larger number of dogs. OBJECTIVES: Description of the signalment, clinical presentation, and imaging findings of a large number of dogs with SADs. ANIMALS: One hundred and twenty‐two dogs with SADs. METHODS: Retrospective case series study. All medical records were searched for a diagnosis of SAD. The diagnosis was made based on myelography, computed tomography myelography (CT‐m), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). RESULTS: In the 122 dogs, 125 SADs were identified. Sixty‐five were located in the cervical region and 60 in the thoracolumbar region. A higher body weight was significantly associated with a cervical localization of the SAD (P