Evaluation of Intervertebral Disc Space Width Between 10th and 11th Thoracic Vertebrae in Cats Using Radiography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging

ABSTRACT Background It is well known that the T10–T11 intervertebral disc space is usually narrower than the adjacent intervertebral disc spaces in most dogs. However, whether the T10–T11 disc space is narrower than the adjacent disc spaces is not well‐established in cats. Objectives To measure the intervertebral disc space width of the T10–T11 disc space and to compare it with that of the adjacent disc spaces using radiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods In Groups 1 (101 clinically normal cats) and 2 (32 cats without spinal diseases from T8 to T13), dorsal width (DW), central width (CW) and ventral width (VW) of the T8–T13 disc spaces were measured by radiography or MRI. Significant differences of the DW, CW and VW among disc spaces measured by radiography and MRI were evaluated. Intra‐ and interobserver reliabilities were measured by intraclass correlation coefficient. Results In Groups 1 and 2 using radiography, the DW and CW of the T10–T11 disc space were significantly narrower than those of adjacent disc spaces (p