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2014 Washington Street
Newton, MA 02462
617-243-6000
Open 24 hoursLab Hours and Holiday Hours Vary
307 W Central St
Natick, MA 01760
617-243-5345
159 Wells Ave
Newton Centre, MA 02459
617-243-5777
111 Norfolk Street
Walpole, MA 02081maps
978 Worcester Road (rte 9)
Wellesley, Massachusetts 02482
781-235-5200
Open 24 hours
Lab Hours and Holiday Hours Vary
25 Washington Street
Wellesley, Massachusetts 02481
617-219-1520
9 Hope Ave
Waltham, MA 02453
617-243-5590
Monday through Saturday: 9:00 am to 7:00 pm
Sunday: 9:00 am to 2:00 pm
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A myelogram is a procedure performed by a radiologist to detect abnormalities of the spinal column. During the test, we’ll inject contrast medium into the fluid-filled space around the spinal cord to detect abnormalities such as compression of the spinal cord or nerve roots.
Department of Radiology, Newton-Wellesley Hospital 2014 Washington Street Newton, MA 02462 Phone: 617-243-6600
Prior to the exam, you may have a regular liquid breakfast. Proper and complete hydration will help guard against headaches after the procedure. You should bring a complete list of your current medications and allergies and give it to the nursing staff and/or the performing radiologist prior to your procedure. You will need to be seen by the Radiology Department at least an hour prior to your scheduled procedure.
Nursing staff members will meet with you first to discuss medications and allergies. Next, we will place an intravenous (IV) line into your arm so that we can give you mild sedation medication and/or fluids during the exam if indicated.
Once in the procedure room, we will take preliminary images of the area we’re examining. You will then be placed either on your side or stomach for the procedure. We will clean the area with antiseptic soap and inject numbing medication under your skin.
We will place a spinal needle into your spinal canal, where we will collect a small amount of spinal fluid to be sent for laboratory results. Next, we will inject contrast medium into your spinal canal and take additional images of the area we’re studying. After we remove the spinal needle, we will place a bandage over the injection site, and then we will transfer you to the CT Department for additional imaging after your myelogram.
We will monitor you for two to four hours after your myelogram for possible complications, including headaches.
Your myelogram itself will take approximately 30 minutes. However, the time to explain the procedure and prepare both you and the exam room means the total time will be more than one hour. Afterward, we will monitor you for two to four hours for possible complications.
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