MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING OF THE CAUDAL LUMBAR AND LUMBOSACRAL SPINEIN 13 DOGS (1990-1993)

The caudal lumbar and lumbosacral spine of 13 dogs with pain or neurol ogic deficits were evaluated using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). S pin echo T1, proton density, and T2 weighted and gradient echo T2 ima ging sequences were utilized. MRI permitted direct, multiplanar, tomog raphic visualization of the spine facilitating evaluation of all compo nents of degenerative caudal lumbar and lumbosacral stenosis. Abnormal ities detected included intervertebral disc degeneration, intervertebr al disc protrusion involving both the vertebral canal and intervertebr al foramina, articular process osteophytosis, articular process fractu re, nerve root impingement by spondylosis deformans, and the presence of low signal material within the vertebral canal of 2 dogs with recur rent pain following previous spinal surgery. In all 7 dogs treated sur gically, MRI findings were consistent with surgical findings.