Adhesive arachnoiditis following lumbar radiculography with water-soluble contrast agents. A clinical report with special reference to metrizamide.

The frequency of adhesive arachnoiditis following lumbar radiculography with methiodal sodium (95 patients), methylglucamine iocarmate (20 examinations in 18 patients), and metrizamide (77 examinations in 73 patients) was found to be 29% in patients who were not operated on between methiodal studies and 48% in those who were operated on. With both methylglucamine iocarmate and metrizamide the frequency was very low. No changes indicating adhesive arachnoiditis were seen with these media in patients who were not operated on between radiographic examinations.