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. 2009 Feb;11(2):53-9.
doi: 10.1016/j.jfms.2008.05.001. Epub 2008 Jul 3.

Clinical and magnetic resonance imaging findings in 92 cats with clinical signs of spinal cord disease

Rita Gonçalves  1 , Simon R Platt, Francisco J Llabrés-Díaz, Katherine H Rogers, Alberta de Stefani, Lara A Matiasek, Vicki J Adams
Affiliations

Clinical and magnetic resonance imaging findings in 92 cats with clinical signs of spinal cord disease

Rita Gonçalves et al. J Feline Med Surg. 2009 Feb.

Abstract

Medical records of 92 cats presented with clinical signs of spinal cord disease, which had undergone magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), were reviewed. The cats were grouped into seven categories based upon the diagnosis suggested by results of MRI, cerebrospinal fluid analysis and other diagnostic procedures: neoplastic (n=25), inflammatory or infectious (n=13), traumatic (n=8), vascular (n=6), degenerative (n=5), anomalous (n=3) and those with an unremarkable MRI (n=32). There were two independent predictors of abnormal MRI findings: severity of clinical signs and presence of spinal pain. Abnormal MRI findings and speed of onset of disease were significantly associated with survival. For the 32 cats with unremarkable MRI findings, only nine died due to spinal disease and, therefore, the median survival time (MST) was not reached (lower 95% confidence interval (CI)=970 days). For the 60 cats with abnormal MRI findings, 37 died due to their disease and the MST was 138 days (95% CI: 7-807).

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Figures

Fig 1.
Fig 1.
Flowchart showing clinical characteristics and outcome for the 92 cases. ‡At date of censor (15 November 2006), *lost to follow-up after first interview (31 May 2004), and †one cat with polyneuritis lost to follow-up 197 days after diagnosis.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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