A COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF THE VALUE OF CONVENTIONAL MYELOGRAPHY, CT-MYELOGRAPHY, AND MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF SPINAL METASTASES

The comparative value of myelography, CT-myelography, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was analyzed in 13 patients with spinal metastases. The objective was to determine the accuracy of the three diagnostic methods in detecting the location of the lesion within the spinal canal and coexisting osseous destructions and/or paravertebral infiltrations. With regard to the determination of the height of the lesion within the spinal canal, conventional myelography was equal to MRI. However, in the majority of cases, only CT-myelography and MRI were able to depict the spinal cord as well as the exact size and location of the lesion. Vertebral metastases and paravertebral infiltrations were detected equally reliable by both, CT-myelography and MRI. In this regard, both methods were superior to myelography. However, in the case of vertebral metastases, the stability of the affected vertebrae could only be assessed by CT or conventional radiography.