Cervical and lumbar routes for metrizamide cervical examination.

The C1-C2 lateral spinal puncture for metrizamide injection is compared to decubitus lumbar puncture for cervical myelography. By lumbar route, the contrast medium was taken into the cervical region with the patient prone. The instances when the lumbar route could not be used include cervical spinal trauma, spinal deformity, and lumbar epidural infection. Routine metrizamide cervical myelography by the C1-C2 route has better film quality and probably fewer short-term adverse reactions than use of the lumbar route of injection.