Myelogram
Myelography is no longer the gold standard in the diagnosis of disc herniation and root compression. It is, however, more than just a makeshift when MRI is not possible - Christoph Ozdoba
image by: BruceBlaus
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CT myelogram; so much more than a spike in the spine
So on Monday I went to the hospital for a scheduled CT myelogram (think spinal tap) and a whole lot of waiting around on gurneys, in empty hallways counting holes in acoustic ceiling tiles (more on why in a later post). And while I enjoy all the pomp and circumstance of having a 20 gauge needle put into my spine and then injected with an iodine-based dye while strapped to a table tilted head down at a 45° angle as much as the next person, I can probably think of one or two other things I’d rather be doing on an 85° Berkeley day… like, oh, I don’t know, not having a 20 gauge needle put into my spine and then injected with iodine-based dye while strapped to a table tilted head down at a 45°…
Resources
Myelography Animation
The procedure combines injection of a contrast dye and spinal imaging using x-ray, computed tomography (CT) scans, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Are severe headaches a common side affect of having a myelogram?
Today, almost all myelograms are also done with CT follow-up...the pictures are much clearer and are in 3D so the information from the myelogram is much superior to the old days when it was just 2D pictures with contrast in the spinal canal (to delineate abnormalities such as abnormal discs, tumors, etc).
GlaxoSmithKline told to set up charity for thousands of Australians left crippled by X-ray dye
Between 1945 and 1987 tens of thousands of Australians were injected with a dye during an X-ray procedure called a myelogram that at the time was the only way for doctors to see the spine clearly before surgery.
Myelography in the Age of MRI: Why We Do It, and How We Do It
Myelography is a nearly ninety-year-old method that has undergone a steady development from the introduction of water-soluble contrast agents to CT myelography. Since the introduction of magnetic resonance imaging into clinical routine in the mid-1980s, the role of myelography seemed to be constantly less important in spinal diagnostics, but it remains a method that is probably even superior to MRI for special clinical issues.
The Burning of The Trees - My Journey Through A Myelogram
A CT Myelogram is usually done on one area at a time, but I was getting the Big Lebowski. The entire cord at once. Because my spine is a slacker just like The Dude. Only this time it wasn't drinking White Russians. It was tanking dye. And today I have one heck of a hangover, because all my head wants to do is hang.
What is a Myelogram?
Are there alternatives to a myelogram? Yes. An MRI can provide much of the same information as a myelogram without an injection of contrast. In those individuals who cannot tolerate MRI scanning because of claustrophobia or contraindications, such as a pacemaker, a myelogram is an extremely useful examination. In certain instances the physician may recommend that both tests (a myelogram and an MR examination) be performed.
CT myelogram; so much more than a spike in the spine
And there you have it, a CT myelogram, while not exactly a ride you’re gonna see at Disneyland anytime soon, is like everything else in life — neither good nor bad — an open door in which opportunity — of all sorts — can be had.
#myelogram
Keeping up with the myelogram world.
InsideRadiology
Myelograms are now carried out much less often than they were 20 years ago. They are used to examine the spinal cord and nerves that come out of the spinal cord to look at spinal and disc problems. Advances in technology allow radiologists (specialist doctors) to see the nerves and cord directly, using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) instead of X-rays.
RadiologyInfo.org
Myelography uses a real-time form of x-ray called fluoroscopy and an injection of contrast material to evaluate the spinal cord, nerve roots and spinal lining (meninges). It is particularly useful for assessing the spine following surgery and for assessing disc abnormalities in patients who cannot undergo MRI.
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