Myelography, CT, and MRI of the spinal canal in patients with myelopathy: a prospective study

Abstract

A prospective study including myelography, CT, and MRI was performed on 36 patients with clinical signs of myelopathy. Evoked potentials and spinal fluid examinations were also carried out. Based on our findings, the patients could be classified as suffering from cryptogenic myelopathy (n = 12), multiple sclerosis (n = 6), spinal stenosis (n = 6), or miscellaneous myelopathies (n = 12). The diameter of the spinal cord was normal in the 2 first groups of patients and of same magnitude evaluated by myelography and CT, while MRI constantly gave higher figures. In only four of the patients important new information was added by CT and MRI (syringomyelia, myelitis, lipomatosis) compared with myelography, although a more precise visualization was often provided. Further diagnostic progress in patients with myelopathy of undetermined etiology may be obtained by including supplementary MRI of the brain disclosing multiple sclerosis in several cases.