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Case Reports
. 2020 Nov;61(11):1155-1158.

Constrictive myelopathy secondary to caudal articular vertebral process dysplasia in West Highland white terrier dogs

Carlos Ros  1 , Cristian de la Fuente  1 , Alejandra García de Carellán Mateo  1 , Patricia Laborda-Vidal  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Constrictive myelopathy secondary to caudal articular vertebral process dysplasia in West Highland white terrier dogs

Carlos Ros et al. Can Vet J. 2020 Nov.

Abstract
in English, French

Clinical signs, imaging findings and long-term follow-up of 3 West Highland white terrier dogs with constrictive myelopathy secondary to caudal articular vertebral process dysplasia are described. Clinical signs were consistent with an acute or chronic T3-L3 myelopathy in all dogs. Diagnostic imaging revealed hypoplasia or aplasia of the caudal articular vertebral processes, extradural compressive myelographic pattern (hourglass-like pattern) with a reduced diameter of the spinal cord, and focal thickening of extradural soft tissues. Medical treatment initially improved the clinical signs in 2 dogs; however, mild proprioceptive deficits remained in all cases. Key clinical message: Constrictive myelopathy secondary to caudal articular vertebral process dysplasia in West Highland white terrier dogs should be considered as a differential diagnosis of an acute or chronic T3-L3 myelopathy in this breed.

Myélopathie constrictive secondaire à une dysplasie du processus articulaire caudal vertébral chez des chiens terriers West Highland white. Les signes cliniques, les trouvailles en imagerie et le suivi à longterme de trois chiens West Highland white avec myélopathie constrictive secondaire à une dysplasie du processus articulaire caudal vertébral sont décrits. Les signes cliniques étaient compatibles avec une myélopathie aiguë ou chronique au niveau T3–L3 chez tous les chiens. L’imagerie diagnostique a révélé une hypoplasie ou une aplasie des processus articulaires caudaux vertébraux, un patron myélographique de compression extra-dural (patron en sablier) avec un diamètre réduit de la moëlle épinière, et épaississement focal des tissus mous extra-duraux. Un traitement médical permis une amélioration des signes cliniques chez deux des chiens; toutefois, des déficits légers de proprioception ont persisté dans tous les cas.Message clinique clé:Une myélopathie constrictive secondaire à une dysplasie du processus articulaire caudal vertébral chez des chiens terriers West Highland white devrait être considérée comme un diagnostic différentiel d’une myélopathie aiguë ou chronique de T3–L3 chez cette race.(Traduit par Dr Serge Messier).

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
A — Latero-lateral plain radiography showing the lack of the normal concave and convex shapes of the cranial and caudal articular vertebral processes, respectively, at the intervertebral spaces (IVS) T11–T12 and T12–T13 (arrows). B — Latero-lateral myelography showing a mild dorsal and ventral extradural compressive myelographic pattern (hourglass-like pattern) at the level of T11–T12 IVS (arrow). C — Computed tomographic 3D surface rendering image showing hypoplasia of the right CAVP of T10, bilateral aplasia at T11 and hypoplasia of the left CAVP of T12 (asterisks).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Latero-lateral myelography (A) and CT-myelographic multiplanar reconstruction (midline sagittal image in bone window) (B), showing an extradural hourglass-like pattern over T12–T13 IVS (arrow). C — CT-myelographic multiplanar reconstruction (transverse image in bone window) at the level of T12–T13 IVS, showing a bilateral dysplasia of the CAVPD of T12 (arrows). A focal reduction of the diameter of the spinal cord with a triangular shape is also observed at that site.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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