Myelography in cancer patients: modified technique.

Because of the frequency of multiple sites of involvement, a thorough evaluation of the entire spinal canal is essential for detection and treatment of spinal compression in cancer patients. For the examination of the entire spinal canal in cancer patients, a modified approach is described using water-soluble contrast medium (metrizamide), oil-based material (Pantopaque), and a "squeezing" technique for a complete myelographic block. Of 240 patients who underwent myelography for possible spinal compression, the squeezing technique was applied through a lumbar puncture to demonstrate a complete block in 39 patients; six of these had more than one block. Of the other 201 patients, the quality of the myelograms was satisfactory or excellent in 189 (94%).