[Diagnostic imaging in suspected lumbar disk prolapse. A controlled comparison of myelography, CT and magnetic resonance imaging]. / Billeddiagnostik ved mistanke om lumbal diskusprolaps. En kontrolleret sammenligning af myelografi, CT og magnetisk resonans-billeddannelse.

Eighty patients with monoradicular sciatica were examined by myelography, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and all had subsequent surgery. The images were evaluated by a decision-analytic regret function. The largest amount of diagnostic information was gained from CT followed by MRI and myelography. Myelography was not significantly informative. The results suggest that CT or MRI should be the first choice examination in patients with suspected lumbar disc herniation.

[Magnetic resonance imaging compared to myelography and CT. Diagnostic value in patients with suspected medullary spinal compression syndrome]. / Magnetisk resonans-billeddannelse sammenlignet med myelografi og CT. Diagnostisk vaerdi hos patienter mistoenkt for medulloert tvoersnitssyndrom.

Comparison between myelography (MY) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was carried out in 36 patients with clinical suspicion of spinal cord or root compression due to metastatic disease in the spinal canal. In three patients metastatic lesions were visualized on MY but not on MRI, while there were no cases with a negative MY and a positive MRI. In 44% of the cases MY alone or combined with postmyelographic CT (pm-CT) showed a larger tumour extension than did MRI, while the opposite occurred in 25%. As for detection of bony metastases and tumour masses localized outside the spine there was no difference between MRI and MY + pm-CT. The results indicate that the choice between MRI and MY + pm-CT still can be based on the availability and quality of the procedure at a given institution.