Abstract
Myelography, ventriculography and CT cisternography with metrizamide was performed in thirty-two children, aged nine days to seven years, at fourty-six occasions. Twenty-one patients were less than twelve months of age.
The lumbar and cervical myelography was performed in fourteen children for evaluation of spinal disorders. Metrizamide was injected by lumbar puncture in different concentrations (114-197 mgI/ml, 3-8 ml) depending upon the body weight of the children and site of interest. The higher concentrations were preferred for examination of the cervical myelography.
Ventriculography was done in six children. The needle was introduced into the lateral ventricle through the lateral angle of the anterior fontanel. A small amount of high concentration metrizamide (114-197 mgI/ml, 2-8 ml) was used. During TV fluoroscopy, the contrast medium was injected. The third ventricle, aqueduct and fourth ventricle were opacified selectively.
CT cisternography was carried out in twentythree children. Metrizamide was injected via lumbar route (98-197 mgI/ml, 3-9 ml). Computed tomography was performed after 1, 3, 6 and 24 hours (48 hours, if necessary) for evaluation of cerebrospinal fluid dynamics.
Adverse reactions were mild and transient (3 patients with headache, 4 with vomiting and 5 with fever). Neither significant alterations occurred in the vital signs, nor severe complications were encountered in this series. In eleven cases cerebrospinal fluid analysis was done before and after the study. A mild increase of cerebrospinal fluid white cell counts and protein content was noted in five cases.
Metrizamide is well suited for radiological contrast study of cerebrospinal fluid spaces in children.
