Psychopathometric demonstration and quantification of mental disturbances following myelography with metrizamide and iopamidol.

Groups each consisting of ten patients underwent lumbar and cervical myelography with metrizamide and iopamidol, together with a control group of ten patients who underwent lumbar punctures only. These groups were studied with a psychopathometric test procedure in order to demonstrate and quantify mental disturbances. It was shown that in contrast to myelography with iopamidol, mild mental disturbances are common after myelography with metrizamide. The severity of the mental disturbances after myelography with metrizamide was dependent on the quantity of contrast medium which diffused into the intracranial space after myelography, suggesting a dose-related neurotoxic effect of this substance. Such a correlation was not found with iopamidol.