[Contrast medium turnover in discography (author's transl)]

Discography seems to have lost some interest for diagnosis in froomt of the new methods of myelo and radiculography with Metrizamide. But it remains still usefull before operation in some cases of lumbo-sciatic and cervico brachial pains. Beside the already known morphological disturbances of the disks it appeared very important to follow up the turnover of the contrast medium in the vertebral interspace. The turnover study of the contrast was performed by successives X ray views taken 12 hours, 24 hours and 48 hours after discography and also in some cases by the analysis of the half-life curve of a radioactive isotope (Technetium) injected jointly with the contrast in the disk. In the normal lumbar disk the contrast medium remains still visible after a delay of 24 hours, while it disappears completely at this time in cases of discopathy. This fact was also confirmed by isotope turnover. In cervical disk this information remains valuable but with a little shorter delay. This radiological sign remains trusty for the great majority of operated discopathies.