Adhesive arachnoiditis after lumbar radiculography with Dimer-X and Depo-Medrol.

Lumbar radiculographs were obtained in 252 patients with suspected disk herniation. Fifteen patients who underwent previous radiculography with Dimer-X plus Depo-Medrol exhibited adhesive arachnoiditis. This was not observed in 6 patients who received Dimer-X alone. No positive correlation between radiological diagnosis of adhesive arachnoiditis and clinical symptoms can be demonstrated. The authors suggest that steroids not be used intrathecally in combination with water-soluble contrast media.