[Omnipaque (iohexol) CT myelography (CTM) in the diagnosis of cervical spondylotic myelopathy--correlative study of conventional myelography (a report of 100 cases)].

Abstract

100 cases of cervical spondylotic myelopathy were studied with both CTM and conventional myelography and the results were compared. It was shown that CTM possesses more advantages over its counterpart as follows: (1) CTM can demonstrate with a higher degree of accuracy the size and configuration of the spinal cord, its internal composition and cystic necrosis, can pick up more herniations, hard and soft, up to 16% (39/252) and better define the position left, middle and right of the protrusion. (2) CTM is capable of making a correct diagnosis of cervical myelopathy and cystic necrosis in the cord. Analysis also showed that the degree of changes of spinal cord seen on CTM correlation closely with severity of the clinical picture. Atrophy and cystic necrosis of the cord are important factors accounting for clinical deterioration and operative failure.