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Myelography
Last reviewed: 07.07.2025
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Myelography is a method of studying the cerebrospinal fluid system of the spinal cord. It is carried out by puncturing the subarachnoid space of the spinal cord and introducing a water-soluble contrast agent there. A distinction is made between descending myelography, when the puncture of the subarachnoid spaces is performed at the level of the large occipital cistern (currently used extremely rarely), and ascending myelography - the puncture is performed at the level of the lower lumbar spine. Previously a widespread method of diagnosing diseases of the spinal cord and spine (tumor, vascular, inflammatory and other processes) with the introduction of MRI has become much less common. Currently, myelography is used mainly to clarify the degree of compression of the subarachnoid spaces of the spinal cord in herniated intervertebral discs, in the diagnosis of inflammatory changes in the membranes of the spinal cord, after surgery, when it is difficult to resolve the issue of the presence of a relapse of a tumor, a herniated disc, as well as a postoperative cicatricial adhesive process using other methods.
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