[The atlantoaxial cistern as a puncture site for lateral cervical C1/2 puncture]

Lateral puncture of the dorsal CSF space, which is usually dilated, at the height of C1/2--called the cisterna atlantoaxialis--is a low risk approach that represents an optimum for cervical myelography, the liquor containing space is sufficiently large for damage to the spinal cord to be avoided.