In vivo detection of microstructural spinal cord lesions in dogs with degenerative myelopathy using diffusion tensor imaging.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Degenerative myelopathy (DM) in dogs is a progressive neurodegenerative condition that causes white matter spinal cord lesions. These lesions are undetectable on standard magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), limiting diagnosis and monitoring of the disease. Spinal cord lesions cause disruption to the structural integrity of the axons causing water diffusion to become more random and less anisotropic. These changes are detectable by the technique of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) which is highly sensitive to diffusion alterations secondary to white matter lesion development.

Objective

Perform spinal DTI on cohorts of dogs with and without DM to identify if lesions caused by DM will cause a detectable alteration in spinal cord diffusivity that correlates with neurologi

SUBMITTER: Johnson PJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7848345 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature