title: Myelography in cancer patients: modified technique.
abstract: Because of the frequency of multiple sites of involvement, a thorough evaluation of the entire spinal canal is essential for detection and treatment of spinal compression in cancer patients. For the examination of the entire spinal canal in cancer patients, a modified approach is described using water-soluble contrast medium (metrizamide), oil-based material (Pantopaque), and a "squeezing" technique for a complete myelographic block. Of 240 patients who underwent myelography for possible spinal compression, the squeezing technique was applied through a lumbar puncture to demonstrate a complete block in 39 patients; six of these had more than one block. Of the other 201 patients, the quality of the myelograms was satisfactory or excellent in 189 (94%).
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005354:Fibrosarcoma / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D009192:Myelography / Q000379:methods; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary; D013899:Thoracic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging