Catheter cervical vertebral venography.

Cervical vertebral venography using catheterzation via the femoral vein was carried out in 78 cases. In disc disease the internal vertebral venous plexus (IVVP) are interrupted at single or multiple levels, and sometimes completely blocked. In ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament, the IVVP are separated bilaterally and interrupted at multiple levels due to centrally situated ossification and associated osteophytes. Venography helps to determine the upper and lower limits of laminectomy, and the necessary sites of facetectomy. The IVVP in the thoracic region were clearly opacified in 86% of 37 normal selective azygograms.