Digital subtraction lumbar diskography: technical note

A simple technique is described for increasing the conspicuousness of radiographic contrast media injection during lumbar diskography. Injections are monitored with a digital C-arm unit using digital subtraction technique, rather than conventional fluoroscopic technique. Fourteen disk levels in six patients have so far been imaged with digital subtraction lumbar diskography. The technique permits more precise monitoring of contrast injections, and may be particularly useful for detecting minute test injections in spaces other than the nucleus pulposus, as well as for diskography on large and overweight patients.