Comparison of CT and Myelography in spine Lesion

Suk, Se Il; Chung, Phil Hyun; Lee, Soo Yong

Abstract

CT and myelography, separately or combined together, have been used for the study of spine lesion. Metrizamide enhanced CT is a new diagnostic modality for the study of spine lesion. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of metrizamide enhanced CT with those of CT and metrizamide myelography. Among 163 surgically proven cases, metrizamide CT was carried out on 49 cases, CT on 50 cases and myelography on 64 cases, at Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Seoul University Hospital for 3 years period from August 1981 to July 1984. 1. Overall diagnostic accuracy of CT was 90%, that of metrizamide myelography was 82.8%and that of metrizamide CT was 93. 9%. 2. Diagnostic accuracy of metrizamide CT in HIVD was 95%, in spinal stenosis 94.4% and in spondylolisthesis 80%. 3. Most of complications were observed in myelography, even they were minor. 4. It was concluded that plain CT was advisable on a clinically typical HIVD, considering complications and expenses of myelography and metrizamide CT. 5. Metrizamide CT was indicated on previously operated cases or atypical HIVD, spinal stenosis and spondylolisthesis.