Usefulness of computerized myelotomography in the diagnosis of discopathy of the cervical spine

: The authors compared the results of preoperative computer-assisted myelography (CAM) with surgical findings in 45 patients with suspected cervical disc disease. In 98% CAM gave full and proper diagnosis confirmed by surgery. Only in one patient, the preoperative diagnosis was extraspinal tumour, and surgery revealed prolapsed nucleus pulposus lying freely on the anterior wall of the dural sac. In authors's opinion, CAM is sufficient for planning of surgical treatment in cervical disc disease, and other radiological studies, myelography or nuclear magnetic resonance tomography are usually not necessary.