Magnetic resonance myelography (MRM) as a spinal examination technique.
OBJECTIVE
Conventional myelography involves side effects and complications due to puncture of CSF space and injection of contrast medium. On the other hand, MR-myelography (MRM) is a new noninvasive method requiring neither puncture nor contrast medium and causing no side effects. The diagnostic value and accuracy of MRM was evaluated in comparison with conventional myelography.


METHODS
In this prospective comparative study, 41 patients (17 male, 24 female, mean age 42 years) with radicular symptoms underwent conventional lumbar myelography and were also submitted to MRM. Evaluation was performed in a blind manner by two independent examiners.


RESULTS
The specificity and sensitivity of the methods are identical. MRM shows 35 cases of thecal indentation with amputation of a nerve root sheath and 6 cases of spinal stenosis. The results of conventional myelography and MRM were surgically confirmed in 38 patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Both methods have the same diagnostic accuracy, but MRM requires neither puncture nor contrast medium nor x-rays.
Ramsbacher
J
J
Department of Neurosurgery, Benjamin Franklin Medical Center, Free University of Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany.
Schilling
A M
AM
Wolf
K J
KJ
Brock
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009192:Myelography; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots / Q000473:pathology*; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013131:Spine / Q000473:pathology*