Clinical outcomes of suspected ischemic myelopathy in cats.

Ischemic myelopathy is a disorder of acute onset that is characterized by nonprogressive paresis/plegia. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is particularly helpful in supporting the antemortem diagnosis of ischemic myelopathy. Cats, which were suspected to have ischemic myelopathy between 2005 and 2008, were reviewed retrospectively. The acute onset of nonprogressive and nonpainful myelopathy, the conduct of spine MRI, and the availability of complete medical records were included in the inclusion criteria. The presumptive diagnosis was based on medical history as well as clinical, cerebrospinal fluid, and MRI findings. Six cats met the inclusion criteria based on medical records that had been made for about 3 years, and had relatively good prognoses. The less number of patients with ischemic myelopathy has been reported in cats than in dogs. However, the number of cats with ischemic myelopathy in clinical settings appears to be greater than previously considered.

Fibrocartilaginous embolism of the spinal cord diagnosed by characteristic clinical findings and magnetic resonance imaging in 26 dogs.

Fibrocartilaginous embolism (FCE) is a disorder of acute onset that presents with nonprogressive ataxia. We performed a retrospective examination of FCE of the spinal cord diagnosed by characteristic clinical findings and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 26 dogs. In the present study, treatment consisting of physiotherapy alone, or this in combination with corticosteroid administration, was initiated immediately following diagnosis of FCE. Age at onset and the gender ratio in the present study closely correlated with those previously reported. In the present study, 88% of the dogs that developed FCE were small- to medium-sized, which is different from previously reported studies. There is a possibility that FCE also develops relatively frequently in small- to medium-sized dogs. No significant difference was observed between the physiotherapy alone and the physiotherapy and corticosteroids groups of dogs. FCE development has been reported predominantly at the vertebral levels C6-T2 and L4-S3 and less frequently at C1-5 and T3-L3. However, in the present study, FCE developed predominantly at T3-L3. FCE developed at T3-L3 or C1-5 in 69% of the cases in the present study, suggesting that there is relatively frequent development of FCE at these vertebral levels. The recovery time of T3-L3 was the shortest (10.2 +/- 7.4 days), and that of C1-5 was next-shortest (15.8 +/- 5.4) in this study. This suggested the possibility that the detection ratio of cases was low, because the symptoms in cases of FCE that has developed in C1-5 and T3-L3 would have improved before inspection in the secondary institution, where the MRI and diagnosis were performed.

Usefulness of an early diagnosis for the favorable prognosis of fibrocartilaginous embolism diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging in 10 small- to middle-sized dogs.

Fibrocartilaginous embolism (FCE), a disorder of rapid onset featured by nonprogressive paralysis and paresis of four legs, shows clinical symptoms very similar to those of other disorders, e.g., disk herniation. We examined 10 animals diagnosed with FCE based on clinical symptoms and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in a retrospective study to examine the relationship between onset-to-diagnosis/treatment initiation time and prognosis of FCE. Statistical procedures, including Fisher's exact probability test, were conducted. All animals in a group, in which the diagnosis was made and treatment was initiated after an elapse of <15 days after onset, showed improved symptoms; the group showed a positive correlation (r = 0.76) between "onset-to-symptom improvement time" and "onset-to-diagnosis/treatment initiation time". Furthermore, the mean onset-to-diagnosis/ treatment initiation times were 2.67 days and 10.25 days in groups without and with sequelae, respectively; the time was significantly (P < 0.02) shorter in the group without sequelae. A significant difference was found between the groups in early diagnosis and treatment initiation. Our study indicates that the early precise diagnosis for acutely developed paralysis and paresis of four legs through testings including MRI, as well as the early onset of their treatment are important to obtain a favorable prognosis.