[A clinical study on the shape of the spinal cord in cervical spondylotic myelopathy based on CT-myelography].

UNLABELLED: A clinical study of computed tomographic myelography with metrizamide was performed in 35 patients operated for cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Sagittal diameter of the cord was measured at vertebral and intervertebral levels. The deformity of the cord was classified into four categories. The correlation between these factors and clinical symptoms and surgical results were examined.

RESULTS: The sagittal diameter of the cord at the most severely affected level was less than 5 mm. There was a good correlation between the degree of cord deformity and the severity of symptoms. The spinal cord with canal stenosis demonstrated severe deformity at multiple levels. Enlargement of the cord was seen with recovery of symptoms after surgery. The shape of the cord provides information on severity and viability of cord damage and, therefore, appears to be useful not only for diagnosis of the lesion but also for selection of the operative treatment.