The retrospective analysis on the clinical utility and side effects of the metrizamide myelography and metrizamide. CT-cisternography were made in 292 patients. Metrizamide CT proved valuable in the diagnosis of intraspinal neoplasms with total block in myelography, demonstrating the upper margin of the neoplasms in a large number(75%) of the cases with neoplasm. Metrizamide study also clearly showed the nature and extent of the syringomyelia, and arachnoid cyst. Metrizamide CT was also helpful in the diagnosis of spinal stenosis, spinal trauma and infectious disease of the spine. The most common side effects were transient minor meningeal irritations (headache, nausea, vomiting and dizziness) which persisted no more than 48 hours in most of the patients. Five patients developed major complications such as grand mal seizure, toxic psychosis or aseptic meningitis.