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Veterinary medicine and science2022; 8(3); 1072-1078; doi: 10.1002/vms3.767

An objective index for spinal cord compression on computed tomography in Thoroughbred horses.

Abstract: Computed tomographic myelography can be a useful tool for evaluating vertebral canal stenosis. However, an index of spinal cord compression is yet to be established. This observational descriptive study aimed to establish an index for spinal cord compression using computed tomography (CT). Twenty-three Thoroughbred horses (age, 155-717 days; weight, 205-523 kg) with suspected cervical vertebral malformation were subjected to computed tomographic myelography in dorsal recumbency using large-bore gantry CT to define the entire cervical vertebrae from C1 to C7. Subsequently, the height of the spinal cord was measured in the sagittal plane reformatted using curved multi-planar reformation (MPR), thereby comparing it with stenotic ratio (i.e. dividing the area of spinal cord by that of the subarachnoid space) measured in the transverse plane. The measurement was performed at the level of each of six intervertebral spaces, for a total of 138 sites. Accordingly, the appropriate cut-off value for spinal cord height was determined using the receiver-operating characteristic curve, from which the area under the curve with 95% confidence interval was estimated. The spinal cord compression cut-off value was 7.06 mm, with an area under curve of 0.84. A weak relationship was observed between spinal cord height and stenotic ratio (R = 0.08, p < 0.05). Following curved MPR, a cut-off value of 7.06 mm may serve as an index for spinal cord compression.
© 2022 The Authors. Veterinary Medicine and Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2022-02-13 PubMed ID: 35152552PubMed Central: PMC9122387DOI: 10.1002/vms3.767Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research aimed to create a reliable measure or index for spinal cord compression in Thoroughbred horses using computed tomographic myelography, a type of CT scan. An optimal cut-off value for spinal cord height, indicative of spinal cord compression, was determined as 7.06 mm.

Objective of the Study

  • The researchers intended to develop a practical and accurate index for spinal cord compression in Thoroughbred horses, which currently does not exist.
  • This index would be based on observations and measurements collected through computed tomographic myelography, a type of imaging using CT scans and contrast material.

Methodology

  • The study involved 23 Thoroughbred horses with suspected cervical vertebral malformation, scanned using large-bore gantry CT. This allowed the researchers to examine the whole cervical vertebrae from C1 to C7.
  • The height of the spinal cord was measured in a sagittal plane reformatted through curved multi-planar reformation (MPR, a type of CT scan technique).
  • The ratio of spinal cord area to subarachnoid space area—referred to as the ‘stenotic ratio’—was measured in the transverse plane.
  • These measurements were carried out at each of six intervertebral spaces, leading to a total of 138 sites.

Findings and Conclusions

  • The researchers determined an optimal cut-off value for spinal cord height, indicative of spinal cord compression, as 7.06 mm. This value was arrived at using receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis.
  • The accuracy of this cut-off value can be assessed by the area under the curve (AUC) value which was found to be 0.84. AUC values closer to 1 indicate better classifier performance.
  • A weak relationship was observed between the spinal cord height and the stenotic ratio, indicating that these two measurements may not be strongly correlated.
  • This study concluded that using a curved MPR, a cut-off value of 7.06 mm could serve as an accurate and useful index for diagnosing spinal cord compressions in Thoroughbred horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Kondo T, Sato F, Tsuzuki N, Chen CJ, Yamada K. (2022). An objective index for spinal cord compression on computed tomography in Thoroughbred horses. Vet Med Sci, 8(3), 1072-1078. https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.767

Publication

Veterinary medicine and science
ISSN: 2053-1095
NlmUniqueID: 101678837
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 8
Issue: 3
Pages: 1072-1078

Researcher Affiliations

Kondo, Taro
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Sagamihara, Japan.
Sato, Fumio
  • Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, Shimotsuke, Japan.
Tsuzuki, Nao
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Japan.
Chen, Chun-Jen
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Sagamihara, Japan.
Yamada, Kazutaka
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Sagamihara, Japan.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Horses
  • Myelography / veterinary
  • Spinal Cord Compression / diagnostic imaging
  • Spinal Cord Compression / veterinary
  • Spinal Stenosis / diagnostic imaging
  • Spinal Stenosis / veterinary
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / veterinary

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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This article includes 21 references
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