Myelography / IVG Hospitals

Myelography

This service is available at:
Massachusetts Veterinary Referral Hospital

A myelogram is an older diagnostic tool used to evaluate the spinal cord for evidence of compression from a disc herniation (Figure) or spinal tumor.  This involves injecting a contrast agent into the spinal fluid space which surrounds the spinal cord.  The spinal cord is not visible on routine X-rays.  The contrast agent flows around the spinal cord and when X-rays are taken after injection, the contrast agent is visible as a bright white line outlining the spinal cord.

This technique is infrequently performed at Mass Vet, as the discs and interior of the spinal cord are visualized on MRI (not seen on myelogram) and MRI is not invasive.