J Neuroradiology
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In nerve root infiltration (NRI) consisting of neural blockage and radiculography, response to the nerve root block has usually been thought to be diagnostically significant. However radiculography has not been statistically evaluated. The purpose of this paper is to assess the value of selective radiculography of patients with group 1 response (typical pain reproduced by needle placement and then relieved by nerve root block) according to Dooley's criteria. ⋯ The accuracy of radiculography was 84% in the canal zone and 100% in the intra and extraforaminal zones. If the L5 nerve root angle was more than 60(o), an intra or extraforaminal lesion was strongly suggested (P<0.01). Radiculography of patients with group 1 response is useful for detecting compressed sites in the symptomatic nerve root, particularly for detecting lesions in the intra and extraforaminal zones.