I haven't had a myelogram but did have a couple of mri's on my back and knee after the rsd started. So....I went and looked up what is the difference between a myelogram and mri. Here's what I found.
For a myelogram they inject dye into the spinal canal.
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his test shows a high level of detail and is helpful in determining the causes of pressure on nerve roots such as a herniated disc, an injury or a tumor.
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That came from an Ortho guy site here:
https://www.semmes-murphey.com/test.php?id=7 It tells how they do the test.
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A myelogram (injecting contrast into the spinal canal) can be done prior to the CAT scan to identify precise spinal anatomy and dysfunction. MRIs can reveal abnormalities with soft tissues, such as nerves or ligaments. They can also help reveal loss of water in a disc, facet joint hypertrophy, narrowing of the spinal canal (stenosis) or a herniated disc.
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That came from here:
http://yourtotalhealth.ivillage.com/...html?pageNum=5
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Reasons for the Procedure
A myelogram may be performed to assess the spinal cord, subarachnoid space, or other structures for abnormalities, particularly when another type of examination, such as a standard x-ray, is inconclusive. Myelograms may be used to evaluate many diseases, including, but not limited to, the following:
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herniated discs
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spinal cord or brain tumors
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ankylosing spondylosis - a disease that affects the spine, causing the bones to grow together
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bone spurs
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arthritic discs
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cysts - benign capsules that may be filled with fluid or solid matter
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tearing away or injury of spinal nerve roots
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arachnoiditis - inflammation of a delicate membrane in the brain
There may be other reasons for your physician to recommend a myelogram.
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That came from here:
http://healthlibrary.brighamandwomen...tems/92,P07670
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Why get a CT/myelogram instead of MRI?
Plain CT scans do not provide spine surgeons with enough information to adequately plan for surgical procedures. The CT/myelogram provides information about the bony architecture of the spine and additional information about the spinal cord and nerve roots, and their location within the spinal canal. In patients with pressure on nerve roots from bone spurs, the CT scan/myelogram test can help define the exact location and severity of the nerve root compression. This test is rarely needed except before surgery to help in planning the extent of an operation. In some cases, the CT myelogram more accurately demonstrates spinal cord and nerve compression when caused by bone (as opposed to compression by ligaments or disc material). In some cases both CT/myelogram and MRI are needed.
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Came from here:
http://www.emoryhealthcare.org/depar...l#CT-myelogram
Here's the MRI part :
http://www.becomehealthynow.com/exam/rad_mri.shtml
Here's the CT part:
http://www.becomehealthynow.com/exam/myelography.shtml So you can compare and contrast the two.
Well, I hope this helps explain the difference at least. Hopefully someone has had this done and can maybe offer more practical help than my websites. LOL
Hugs,
Karen