MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING OF CANINE DEGENERATIVE LUMBAR SPINE DISEASES

Degenerative lumbar spine diseases, i.e., sacrolumbar stenosis, interv ertebral disk degeneration and protrusion and spondylosis deformans of the canine lumbar spine were studied in eleven canine patients and th ree healthy controls using radiography and 0.02 T and 0.04 T low field magnetic resonance imaging. The T1 and T2 weighted images were obtain ed in sagittal and transverse planes. The loss of hydration of nucleus pulposus, taken as a sign of degeneration in the intervertebral disks , could be evaluated in both T1 and T2 weighted images. As a noninvasi ve method magnetic resonance imaging gave more exact information about the condition of intervertebral disks than did radiography. Sacrolumb ar stenosis and compression of the spinal cord or cauda equina and sur rounding tissue could be evaluated without contrast medium.