Myelography--a case for audit.

The radiographic findings and clinical outcome of 54 patients having a myelogram at the request of the Department of Rheumatology over a period of five years are described. Fortynine of the patients had either clinical features of an intervertebral disc protrusion or chronic back pain of obscure aetiology. Abnormalities which could have accounted for the symptoms and signs were found in 28 of these. Although useful information was obtained in regard to therapy the investigation did not lead to surgical treatment in any of the patients without clinical evidence of lumbar root compression. No unexpected malignancies were found. Morbidity was common, but usually mild.