A comparison of computed tomography to epidurography for the diagnosis of suspected compressive lesions at the lumbosacral junction in dogs

Twenty-six dogs with suspected lumbosacral (LS) compressive lesions underwent both epidurography and computed tomography (CT) at the LS junction. The radiographic studies were blindly evaluated for lesion detection by two specialists, each experienced with the respective imaging technique. The evaluators agreed in 19 cases (73%), seven of which were assessed normal and 12 which were assessed abnormal. There was disagreement on seven (27%) of the cases, with five considered abnormal with CTs that were assessed normal with epidurography. Two cases were considered abnormal with epidurographies that were assessed as normal with CT. Analysis indicated a statistically high degree of correlation between the results of the tests. We conclude that either epidurographyor CT can be used as the routine imaging test for suspected compressive LS lesions in dogs with a high expectation that the other test will be in agreement. The addition of the alternate test can be reserved for those cases in which the results of the first test are either equivocal or negative, and further lesion determination remains critical for proper case management. Sample images representative of various degrees of normality/abnormality are presented