Advances in Imaging for Intervertebral Disc Disease

There are various imaging modalities employed for dogs and cats with suspected intervertebral disc herniation (IVDH). Conventional radiography became widely available in the 1950s and 1960s in the veterinary profession. Accurate positioning requires heavy sedation or general anesthesia. Myelography requires general anesthesia and a degree of skill in the placement of the material within the subarachnoid space. Computed tomography (CT) offered improved visualization of tissues due to the ability to manipulate the contrast windows and levels. The combination of myelography and CT yields an improved diagnostic capability. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) became more available in the beginning of the twenty-first century. It is widely accepted that MRI has improved visualization of spinal disease. There has been a major shift in the imaging of intervertebral disc disease with ever-increasing improvement in the diagnosis, which is leading to improved therapies and clinical outcomes.