Lumbar Epidural Venography

The clinical value of lumbar epidural venography(L.E.V.) has been stressed in diagnosing lumbar disc since Batson's desciption of vertebral venous system in 1940. We have tried this procedure by the selective catheterization of ascending lumbar and, or internal iliac vein to 16 patients with disc symptoms. In 6 patients with abnormal myelography, 4 revealed abnormal L.E.V. and in 2, the above procedure was failed. In 6 patients with disc-like symptoms but normal myelography, 2 were abnormal L.E.V., 2 normal and 2 failed. 3 with disc-like symptoms but equivocal myelography, abnormal L.E.V. was definitely shown in 2 patients and failed. Operation was done in 7 patients(6, abnormal myelography and one, only abnormal L.E.V.).