RADIOLOGIC FEATURES COMPARED TO CLINICAL FINDINGS IN A PROSPECTIVE-STUDY OF 153 PATIENTS WITH METASTATIC SPINAL-CORD COMPRESSION TREATED BYRADIOTHERAPY

Plain radiography, myelography and post-myelographic CT-scan are descr ibed and related to clinical findings in a prospective study of 153 co nsecutive patients with myelographic signs of spinal cord compression. The majority of the metastatic tumours arise in the vertebral body or the pedicles. In 80% of the patients with total blockage to the contr ast medium on myelography the post-myelographic-CT showed passage of t he contrast medium. Ambulatory function at time of diagnosis was corre lated to the degree and the localization of the epidural block. In 64 patients who underwent a second myelography, the post-treatment findin gs of sensory function were correlated to radiological regression.