Myelography

Myelography
Intervention
Myelogram showing arachnoiditis in the lumbar spine.
ICD-9-CM	87.21
MeSH	D009192
OPS-301 code:	3-130

Myelography is a type of radiographic examination that uses a contrast medium to detect pathology of the spinal cord, including the location of a spinal cord injury, cysts, and tumors. The procedure often involves injection of contrast medium into the cervical or lumbar spine, followed by several X-ray projections. A myelogram may help to find the cause of pain not found by an MRI or CT.

Myelography has been largely replaced by the use of CT and MRI scans.

A CT is typically performed after radiographic contrast media (dye) has been placed with fluoroscopic guidance into the sac (dura) surrounding the spinal cord and nerves. The material is typically water-based, which has largely replaced oil based fluids. A CT myelogram is most useful for patients who cannot undergo MRI (e.g., those with pacemakers or cochlear implants), or for those in whom MRI provides limited information (e.g., those with extensive metal in the spine).

The process usually involves lying face down on a table, with the lower extremities secured tightly with straps to the table. After the skin area has been numbed, the dye is injected into the spinal sac, then the table is slowly rotated in a circular motion, first down at the head end for approximately 4–6 minutes, then rotated up at the head end for the same duration. Several more minutes lying flat and the process is complete. This movement insures the contrast has sufficiently worked its way through the spinal cord, followed by x-rays, CT, or MRI scans.

If the fluid introduced in the spinal tap was oil based, the physician conducting the procedure will remove the fluid after the procedure is complete. When water-based fluid is used, it is typically not removed, as the fluid will eventually be absorbed into the body.

Post-procedure case centers around ensuring that infection does not set in and that the "plug" at the site of the spinal tap does not become dislodged. Patients are usually instructed to avoid strenuous activity and heavy lifting, for example. Some patients are given instructions to keep their heads eleveated at least 30 degrees for a specified number of hours. Complications from the surgery can cause a loss of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which could cause severe headaches. This can be corrected by returning to the medical facility and having them perform a blood patch. In this procedure a small amount of blood is taken from the arm and injected into the exact spinal tap location to stop the leaking of CSF.

References

• Bontranger, Kenneth L. & Lampignano, John P. (2005). Radiographic Positioning and Related Anatomy, St. Louis: Elsevier Mosby. ISBN 0-323-02507-2.

External links

• U of Maryland
• Spinal Injury Foundation

This medical treatment-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.v · Categories: Projectional radiography Medical treatment stubs Wikimedia Foundation. 2010. Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат Metal Slug 5 Fernando Nogueira Look at other dictionaries: myelography — Radiography of the spinal cord and nerve roots after the injection of a contrast medium into the spinal subarachnoid space. [myelo + G. graphe, a drawing] * * * my·e·log·ra·phy .mī ə läg rə fē …   Medical dictionary myelography — n. a specialized method of X ray examination to demonstrate the spinal canal that involves injection of a radiopaque contrast medium into the subarachnoid space by lumbar puncture. The X rays obtained are called myelograms. It is of importance in …   The new mediacal dictionary myelography — myelographic /muy euh leuh graf ik/, adj. myelographically, adv. /muy euh log reuh fee/, n. Med. the production of myelograms. [1935 40; MYELO + GRAPHY] * * * ▪ medicine       medical procedure for examining the spinal cord by means of X rays (X… …   Universalium myelography — noun A type of radiographic examination that uses a contrast medium to detect pathology of the spinal cord, including the location of a spinal cord injury, cysts, and tumors. See Also: myelogram …   Wiktionary myelography — n. process of examining the spinal cord by X ray (Medicine) …   English contemporary dictionary myelography — my·e·log·ra·phy …   English syllables myelography — noun roentgenography of the spinal cord to detect possible lesions (usually after injection of a contrast medium into the subarachnoid space) • Hypernyms: ↑roentgenography, ↑X ray photography …   Useful english dictionary oxygen myelography — myelography in which oxygen is used as the contrast medium …   Medical dictionary Миелография (Myelography) — специальный метод рентгенологического исследования, позволяющий наблюдать спинномозговой канал; он заключается во введении рентгеноконтрастного вещества в подпаутинное пространство. Получаемое с помощью рентгеновских лучей изображение называется… …   Медицинские термины МИЕЛОГРАФИЯ — (myelography) специальный метод рентгенологического исследования, позволяющий наблюдать спинномозговой канал; он заключается во введении рентгеноконтрастного вещества в подпаутинное пространство. Получаемое с помощью рентгеновских лучей… …   Толковый словарь по медицине 18+ © Academic, 2000-2024 Contact us: Technical Support, Advertising Dictionaries export, created on PHP, Joomla, Drupal, WordPress, MODx. Mark and share Search through all dictionaries Translate… Search Internet Share the article and excerpts Direct link … Do a right-click on the link above and select “Copy Link”