Metrizamide: Supplemental

In a pilot group of 20 sequential patients who underwent metrizamide lumbar myelography, three modifications in technique were compared: (1) a " 30 " min delayed frontal projection, (2) supine projection of the conus medullaris, and (3) horizontal beam oblique views of the lumbosacral theca. The study showed much better opacifi-cation of the lowermost lumbar and the sacral root sleeves by delayed filming in most (70 % ) of the cases; that the conus medullaris, a structure difficult to visualize by the routine method of prone positioning, could be well visualized routinely with the patient supine; and that larger numbers of lumbar nerve root sleeves could be seen with the same degree of table tilt on horizontal beam oblique than on vertical beam oblique radiography. The earl y c linica l use of water-so luble contrast agents, Abrod il, Sk iodan, Contrast U (trade brands of methi odal sodium), afforded exce llent opacificat ion of the lumbar subarachnoid space and demonstrated more lateral extension of the respecti ve nerve root sleeves than Lipiodol [1]. The advent of the first c linica ll y tested non ionic water-soluble myelog raphic medium, metr izamid