Agreement between transverse T2‐weighted and three‐dimensional constructive interference in steady state sequences in the evaluation of spinal cord disease in dogs. (30th June 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Oliveira, Maria; McConnell, James Fraser; Maddox, Thomas W; Sanchez‐Masian, Daniel; Gonçalves, Rita
• Is Part Of: Veterinary record. Volume 182:Number 26(2018)
• Page Start: 745
• Page End: 745
• Publication Date: 2018-06-30
• Subjects: magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) -- CISS -- spinal cord disease; Veterinary medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine vétérinaire -- Périodiques; Veterinary medicine; Veterinary Medicine; Periodicals; Periodical; Electronic journals; 636.089
• DOI: 10.1136/vr.104583
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0042-4900

Abstract

Abstract : The constructive interference in steady state (CISS) sequence has been widely used in human neuroimaging. It has been shown to be advantageous in the evaluation of intra‐axial and extra‐axial cystic abnormalities, arteriovenous and dysraphic malformations and disturbances of cerebrospinal fluid circulation. To assess the utility of this technique in small animals, interpretations based on this sequence were compared with those based on T2‐weighted (T2W) sequences in 145 dogs that underwent MRI of the spine for suspected spinal cord disease. Two sets of images (T2W and CISS) were reviewed separately by three observers in random order and intraobserver and interobserver agreements between both sequences were evaluated for several categorical variables. The overall agreement between T2W and CISS sequences was good. The highest agreement was observed for lesion diagnosis (0.739<k<0.928), treatment recommendation (0.715<k<0.833) and degree of spinal cord compression (0.772<k<0.952). The agreement for intramedullary intensity change (0.192<k<0.332) was lower compared with the other variables. Lesions that were predominantly characterised by focal hyperintense parenchymal changes on T2W were in some instances undetected on the CISS sequence while lesions consistent with spinal arachnoid diverticula on CISS sequences were occasionally missed on T2W. CISS enabled demonstration that lesions were directly affecting associated spinal nerves in some cases where T2W sequence was equivocal. Although CISS does not replace standard spin echo sequences, the results support inclusion of this sequence in small animal spinal MRI studies when subarachnoid diverticula or spinal nerve compression is suspected.