Swift Referrals offer a specialist-led neurosurgical and neurology service. We are the only hospital in the Leeds, Harrogate and York area to have on-site MRI, as well as CT, plus an in-house laboratory and a 24/7 ICU.
MRI has long been established as the gold standard in veterinary neurodiagnostic imaging, providing non-invasive and highly detailed images of the soft tissue structures of the central nervous system without the need for ionizing radiation.
MRI vs CT
While some practices continue to promote CT as a modality to diagnose spinal disease in small animal patients, with an emphasis on intervertebral disc disease, the level of soft tissue detail provided is so poor compared to MRI that many of the commonly seen conditions in our small animal patients simply cannot be diagnosed with plain CT. Furthermore, unlike CT, MRI can show changes within the spinal cord parenchyma, some of which are essential prognostic indicators following spinal injury.
Note the superior detail of the neural tissues on MRI (bottom image) versus CT (top image). On MRI significant spinal cord change consistent with scar tissue (gliosis) is clearly visible (blue arrow). This is not visible via CT.
The diagnostic utility of CT in spinal patients can be improved with myelography. However, clients and referring vets need to be aware that the injection of a contrast agent adjacent to the spinal cord carries the risks of seizures, worsening neurological signs, infection, permanent spinal cord injury and death.
Furthermore, many myelographic studies are rendered non-diagnostic in the face of spinal cord swelling or epidural leakage, and CT-myelography is still unable to provide a diagnosis for many of the commonly encountered spinal diseases seen in our small animal patients including fibrocartilaginous embolism, acute non-compressive nucleus pulposus extrusion, meningomyelitis and intramedullary neoplasia.
MRI image showing spinal cord damage following iatrogenic injection into the central canal.
CT-myelography
MRI is a more costly imaging modality compared to CT. This is due to the equipment itself and running costs. At Swift Referrals, we are conscious that for some, the costs of MRI are prohibitive. In such cases, we are prepared to offer CT-myelography as an alternative to MRI if this ultimately allows treatment of a pet that would otherwise be impossible owing to financial constraints. This would, of course, only be considered if there was a realistic chance of achieving a diagnosis and once the client had been made fully aware of the limitations and risks of this approach.
Free advice for vets
Our team are always happy to provide advice, so if you have any clients that are unsure about referral and the associated costs, it is always worth giving us a call. We continue to offer fixed-fee packages for our neurosurgical cases, so our patients can continue to have the care they need following their surgery without additional or hidden costs.
Referring to Swift Referrals
The team accept neurosurgical and medical neurology referrals 24/7 (including evenings and weekends.)
To discuss a case or refer a patient please call 01937 374888, email info@swiftreferrals.co.uk or complete our online referral form.