Respiratory arrest--a fatal complication of myelography.

Respiratory arrest occurred in a patient undergoing cervical myelography in the Trendelenberg position. Autopsy revealed infiltration of the phrenic nerves by metastatic breast cancer resulting in diaphragmatic paralysis. Though this is a very rare complication of myelography, it is suggested that more attention be paid to the respiratory function of patients with neurological conditions prior to myelography.