[Diagnostic imaging of the equine cervical spine - Part one: Radiography - A review of the literature on findings and their clinical significance].

A number of indications exist that necessitate radiologic examination of the equine cervical spine. Different neurologic and pain-associated clinical signs within the scope of lameness or poor performance may be associated to pathologies of the cervical spine. Moreover, the number of requests for radiographic examinations of the cervical spine, for example as part of the pre-purchase examination, has increased significantly in recent years. However, the interpretation of radiographs represents a challenge, particularly in the case of clinically sound horses, as it often necessitates the resolution of a prognostic question. At present, a number of radiologic findings of the equine cervical spine lack clear clinical significance, as some findings (e. g. osteochondrosis dissecans [OCD] of the facet joints) also occur in clinically healthy horses. In acute neurologic cases, such as spinal ataxia, radiographic examination of the cervical spine is the imaging procedure of choice. The subjective and objective assessment of radiographs frequently leads to a diagnosis of cervical static myelopathy. Acute trauma, fractures or degenerative processes, may be distinguished from this entity. This literature review presents a summary of the current state of knowledge regarding the interpretation and clinical relevance of radiological findings of the equine cervical spine.