Cervical myelography by lateral cervical and lumbar injection of metrizamide. A comparison.

Two methods of cervical myelography, C1-C2 and lumbar injection of the contrast medium, respectively, were carried out in 2 series of patients. The C1-C2 injection resulted in films of higher quality than the lumbar injection but is probably more risky. It was unsuccessful in approximately 5 per cent of the patients. If only patients suited for the lumbar approach are examined with lumbar injection and the others with C1-C2 injection, films of high quality are obtained in almost all patients and a low frequency of adverse effects is encountered.