A comparison of computed tomography and myelography in the diagnosis of lumbar disc herniation.

Ninety patients suspected to have a herniated lumbar disc were examined by myelography and computed tomography (CT). Of these, 37 were subjected to surgery. The surgical findings were in agreement in 21 patients (57%) with the myelograms and in 28 patients (76%) with the CT examinations. False-positive CT examinations were found in only one patient. CT is as reliable as myelography in the primary diagnosis of disc herniation.