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VCA Sacramento Veterinary Referral Center
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VCA Sacramento Veterinary Referral Center
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Myelography is a contrast iodinated radiographic study used to highlight the spinal cord within the vertebral canal. While survey vertebral column radiographs do not allow visualization of the spinal cord or the meninges, Myelography with the use of radiographs as described above, allows visualization of the outline of the spinal cord.
The procedure is technical and performed by veterinarians experienced with the procedure. The procedure is carried out under anesthesia. A spinal needle is introduced into the spinal canal as for a spinal tap. For myelography of the entire spine usually lumbar puncture at L4-5 or L5-6 is performed (low back area). After sterile surgical preparation of the skin, the needle is inserted into the subarachnoid space. This space lies between the outer meninges (fibrous covering of the spinal cord) and the spinal cord itself. This space is filled with spinal fluid. The contrast agent is slowly and gently instilled with care until the entire spinal cord can be visualized into the high neck region.
Myelography for many years was the only way to further image the spinal cord. Although it does not allow for imaging the spinal cord itself, because the contrast agent surrounds and thus highlights the spinal cord, it can provide information on diseases causing compression from the outside the cord but within the canal (extra-dural), within the meninges (intra-dural, extramedullary) and also within the spinal cord (intramedullary).
Examples of extradural diseases include: intervertebral disc extrusion, tumors, cysts, infection, hemorrhage, compression from malformation, fracture or instability and other. Examples of intradural-extramedullary diseases include tumors or infection of the meninges/nerve roots, and cysts or dilations or adhesions of the meningeal elements. Intramedullary diseases include tumors of the spinal cord itself, ischemic stroke, hemorrhage, infection, inflammation, cavities (syrinx), traumatic high velocity intervertebral disc rupture and others.
Our neurology specialty team has the advanced training, experience, skill and technologically-advanced diagnostic equipment to help your pet should a neurological condition occur affecting the brain, spinal cord, nerves or muscles. Our approach includes thoroughly assessing your pet, helping you to understand how your pet's nervous system is affected by its condition and provide you with all available treatment options. Our Neurology Department is available 7 days a week to help you and your pet!
When you visit our Neurology/Neurosurgery Department for a neurology consultation, our neurologists generally start by collecting your pet's medical history. Our doctors then perform a thorough neurological examination of your pet, which provides us with information that will help us to pinpoint where the problem is occurring in the brain, spinal cord, nerves or muscles and identify the disorder. Based on this initial information, our doctors may recommend blood work, x-rays or more advanced testing, such as MRI or CT scan, in order for us to arrive at a more definitive diagnosis. Having arrived at a diagnosis, we will then discuss with you the potential causes of the problem as well as all treatment options for your pet.
What Is Veterinary Neurology?
Veterinary Neurology is the branch of medicine that treats diseases of the nervous system: the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and muscles in pets. This encompasses such common problems as epilepsy, herniated disks, spinal and head injuries, meningitis, and cancers of the nervous system. A board certified veterinary neurologist is a licensed veterinarian who has obtained additional intensive training in veterinary neurology and has been certified by either the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) in the United States or the European College of Veterinary Neurology (ECVN) in Europe to specialize in veterinary neurology.
While your general practitioner veterinarian can diagnose and treat many health problems, certain diseases and conditions require the care of a doctor who has had specialized, intensive training in veterinary neurology in order to provide the very best outcome for your pet.
Why Does My Pet Need A Veterinary Neurologist?
Just as your own primary care physician may feel the need to refer you to the care of a specialist from time to time, your general practitioner veterinarian may feel your pet needs a veterinary neurologist to help diagnose or treat a problem. While your general practitioner veterinarian can handle many aspects of your pet's care, just as in human medicine, there is sometimes a need for the attention of a specialist. You can be assured that a veterinarian who knows when to refer you and your pet for more specialized diagnostic work or treatment is one that is caring and committed to ensuring that your pet receives the highest standard of medical care for his or her condition.
Specifically, veterinary neurologists can provide the following:
Will My Regular Veterinarian Still Be Involved?
In many cases, your regular veterinarian will still supervise your pet's veterinary care, especially if your pet is coping with multiple disease states or conditions. In other cases, your referral doctor will take over the majority of your pet's medical care for the duration of its referred treatment. It depends on your pet's particular problem.
Did You Know?
