CT myelographic diagnosis of ligamentum flavum hypertrophy in a Warmblood Gelding with progressive ataxia

Vet Radiol Ultrasound. 2021 Jul;62(4):e44-e47. doi: 10.1111/vru.12971. Epub 2021 Apr 5.

Abstract

An 8-year-old Warmblood gelding presented with a history of progressive ataxia for 6 weeks. Intra- and intervertebral ratios measured from lateral radiographs of the cervical spine were within normal limits. Computed tomographic myelography of the cervical spine revealed focal compression of the dorsal and the ventral contrast column as well as a ventral displacement of the spinal cord within the spinal canal due to a bulging of soft tissue attenuating material in the dorsal half of the intervertebral junction of C6 and C7. Post-mortem histopathological examination confirmed chondroid metaplasia of the ligamentum flavum at C6-C7.

Keywords: Equine; cervical spine; cervical stenotic myelopathy.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Ataxia / diagnostic imaging
  • Ataxia / pathology
  • Ataxia / veterinary*
  • Disease Progression*
  • Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging*
  • Horse Diseases / pathology
  • Horses
  • Humans
  • Ligamentum Flavum / diagnostic imaging
  • Ligamentum Flavum / pathology*
  • Male
  • Myelography / veterinary*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / veterinary*