Post Metrizamide CT in the Diagnosis of Syringomyelia

Abstract

18 cases of syringomyelia examined over the last 3 years are reviewed. 9 cases were post‐traumatic (PT) and 9 were non‐traumatic (NT). Of the 9 NT cases, 5 were secondary to Arnold‐Chiari malformation, 1 was associated with Astrocytoma of the cord, and 3 were designated idiopathic. The appearances of syringomyelia on myelogram CT (MCT) – the accumulation of contrast within the cord – are discussed along with suggestions for optimum scanning technique. Myelography block was present in 3 cases, and partial block in a further 3. The presence of block, or estimate of cord size, obviously could not be assessed in our case of direct syrinx puncture. The PT cases were found to accumulate contrast earlier than the NT cases.