Myelography with Metrizamide—An Analysis of the Complications Encountered in Cervical, Thoracic and Lumbar Myelography

Abstract

Myelography with metrizamide-an analysis of the complications encountered in cervical, thoracic and lumbar myelography. C. C. McCormick, H. T. Apsimon and T. M. H. Chakera. /lust. N.Z. J. M e d . , 1981, 11, pp. 645-650.Detailed analysis of complications in 363 patients undergoing myelography with metrizamide is presented. Patients have been separated into three groups: those who had lumbar myelograms via lumbar puncture; patients who had cervical myelograms via lumbar route and patients who had cervical myelograms via cervical puncture (lateral ClIC2. approach).Analysis has revealed that the incidence of minor complications like headaches, nausea, and vomiting is higher than that associated with myodil myelography. Nevertheless, it is concluded that because of lack of long term disability of arachnoiditis, and because of greater diagnostic accuracy, mefrizamide represents the best contrast medium for myelography currently available.

MR Lumbar Discography with Intradiscal Gadolinium in Patients with Severe Anaphylactoid Reaction to Iodinated Contrast Material

“…Rapoport et al referred to a personal communication with Speck that stated thousands of metrizamide myelographies had been associated with only a few anaphylactoid reactions [19]. Adverse reactions, including urticaria and angioedema, associated with metrizamide myelography have been reported [20,21]. Tallroth retrospectively reported the safety of myelography using metrizamide and a premedication regimen in patients with previous adverse reactions to iodinated contrast material, but only three of 26 patients included had a previous history of a severe anaphylactoid reaction [22].…”