Mri or ct myelogram?

**cheryl stewart** · 03-18-2010, 09:23 AM

If mri show soft tissue and ct myelogram show bony structures, why wouldn't you do both? I may have some spinal nervers that are pinched by my bone spurs. My surgeon wants to order another ct myelogram rather than an mri. I am so confused! Somebody please reply? Thank you, cher

**WPKat** · 03-18-2010, 06:24 PM

Originally Posted by cheryl stewart

If mri show soft tissue and ct myelogram show bony structures, why wouldn't you do both? I may have some spinal nervers that are pinched by my bone spurs. My surgeon wants to order another ct myelogram rather than an mri. I am so confused! Somebody please reply? Thank you, cher

This sites might help explain his reasoning:
Myelography - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Myelogram

**cheryl stewart** · 03-19-2010, 09:20 AM

okay, so i read this...and if the ct is done after the myelography, why don't they just do a standard ct and see if that gives them what they need to know and if not then do the spinal tap? why put that risk on the patient without first doing the minimal thing first? in any case, i will most likely have to have another ct myelogram done. not looking forward to it.

**Justin** · 03-20-2010, 12:25 AM

Originally Posted by cheryl stewart

okay, so i read this...and if the ct is done after the myelography, why don't they just do a standard ct and see if that gives them what they need to know and if not then do the spinal tap? why put that risk on the patient without first doing the minimal thing first? in any case, i will most likely have to have another ct myelogram done. not looking forward to it.

Hi Cher,

I had a myelogram and it was a pretty seamless procedure. The reasoning behind doing the spinal tap and films is that the myelography is able to provide much more information regarding the spinal canal. Patients are actually exposed to significant doses of radiation with each CT scan they undergo, as compared to a plain x-ray. A patient's increasing exposure to radiation puts them at an increased lifetime risk of certain cancers.

Patients are already receiving too many imaging studies based on the "defensive medicine" that the United States currently requires.

**cheryl stewart** · 03-20-2010, 01:18 PM

but dont they usually do a ct scan after the myelogram? i had a docotr in california recommend both a ct myelogram and an mri. he said they need to look at the arthritis and my nerves/spinal cord. i am trying to take some control, know what i mean?

**Justin** · 03-20-2010, 09:10 PM

Originally Posted by cheryl stewart

but dont they usually do a ct scan after the myelogram? i had a docotr in california recommend both a ct myelogram and an mri. he said they need to look at the arthritis and my nerves/spinal cord. i am trying to take some control, know what i mean?

Yes, a CT is done with a CT/Myelogram --> good at visualizing bony structures.
MRI --> good at visualizing soft tissues.

**cheryl stewart** · 04-01-2010, 09:24 AM

Hi Justin,
I saw that my EMG? was moved. It makes better since for it to be here.
I am having the CT myelogram and EMG done next Tuesday.
I guess I'll survive.
Thanks,
Cheryl

**Carmen** · 04-26-2010, 11:06 PM

Originally Posted by cheryl stewart

Hi Justin,
I saw that my EMG? was moved. It makes better since for it to be here.
I am having the CT myelogram and EMG done next Tuesday.
I guess I'll survive.
Thanks,
Cheryl

HI Cheryl,
I just came back from picking up my film from the ct and the myelogram. The doctor could not read the Disc so I went back to the hospital to pick it up. I asked for and received anesthesia during the procedure. I really don't know what good it did. As soon as the anesthesia wore off I was in a lot of pain. They could not give me much since I had to have the ct scan immediately following. They just wheeled me by the scan. I never had to leave the bed. What you can do that I didn't do is to have some pain meds ready for after the procedure. My doctor does not believe in it. He never steps out of the box. It is either black or white That is what I would do if i had to do it over. Good luck, Carmen :thumpup:

**Carmen** · 04-27-2010, 12:03 AM

Hi Cheryl,
I guess the test does show many important factors that the doctor should be aware of.

This is what the myelogram showed: Tested April 7, 2010

. Multilevel degenerative change
.
Complete obliteration of the L5 to S1 disk

L4 and L5 there is a pronounced rotatory subluxation component
.
Rotoscoliosis of the lumber spine with marked multilevel
degenerate change

Central canal is most compromised at L2 to L3 due to disk herniation
.
Multiple levels of lateralizing degenerative change resulting in neural foraminal narrowing.

I hope yours comes out better. Carmen

.
.
.

.