Fibrocartilaginous Embolic Myelopathy & Vascular Diseases

Fibrocartilaginous embolic myelopathy (FCEM) is characterized by acute spinal cord infarction caused by embolism of fibrocartilage identical to that of the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disk. Acute tetra-, para-, or monoparesis or monoplegia can be seen based on the location of the ischemic injury to the cord. Most commonly this affects large breed dogs. FCEM rarely affects cats.