[Cystography of the spinal cord for delineating tactics for surgical treatment of syringomyelia].

Radiocontrast study of cystic cavities of the spinal cord was conducted in 23 patients with the clinical picture of syringomyelia and syringobulbia. Diffuse cystic cavities were demonstrated in the cervical and thoracic segments of the spinal cord in 22 patients. In 9 patients, the spinal cysts communicated with the cavity of the fourth ventricle. In 2 cases, the cysts extended to the region of the spinal cord terminal filament. The information obtained allowed a differential approach to the choice of the method and tactics of surgical treatment of syringohydromyelia. Macrosurgical operations on the craniovertebral level with tamponade of the communication between the spinal cord cyst and the cavity of the fourth ventricle were carried out in patients with the communicating form of syringomyelia. Operations for dividing the terminal filament of the spinal cord or myelotomy with drainage of the cyst at the cervical or thoracic level were performed in other cases.