Myelography in the cat: a comparison of cisternal versus lumbar puncture, using metrizamide

Metrizamide myelographic examinations were performed on five normal cats using sequential cisternal and lumbar injections at weekly intervals to determine the dose of contrast medium required, adverse effects, and quality of the myelographic study. The normal myelographic appearance in the cat is described. All spinal cords were examined histopathologically after the termination of the study, and variable mild lesions were found. Doses of 0.2 ml/kg, 0.35 ml/kg, and 0.4 ml/kg metrizantide, respectively, for lumbar, thoracolumbar, and complete spinal studies are recommended when performing lumbar injection. Recommended doses using cisternal injection for cervical, cervicothoracic, and complete spinal studies are 0.2, 0.45, and 0.5 ml/kg, respectively. Subjectively, lumbar injection produced higher-quality thoracolumbar myelograms and cisternal injection produced higher-quality cervical studies. Clinical complications during the study included one seizure following cisternal myelography and mild neurologic deficits in all cats, which resolved within 36–48 hours