Neurosurgery, detailing the concern expressed at the meeting regarding the increasing awareness of long-term inflammatory sequelae of iophendylate. Various measures were suggested, in particular preferred use of water-soluble dyes, but with an emphasis on looking for non-invasive imaging

In 1977, Metrizamide (Amipaque), the first non-ionic water based contrast agent became available, and was thus in direct competition with Pantopaque. Marketing studies of Pantopaque between 1976 and 1977 showed that the product accounted for 82% of Lafayette's product sales. A highly lucrative commodity! In 1977, Alcon proposed acquisition of Lafayette (Alcon itself had been acquired that same year by Nestle). Stock purchase and sale were finalised on January 1, 1978. Pantopaque production required only a single ingredient purchased from Eastman Kodak. At the time of Alcon's takeover, Lafayette's erstwhile President, Bucke, was in fact the principal owner, the two other major stockholders being Griggs and Kunz (names we have already seen). In 1977, two papers were published of cases of pulmonary embolism after or during myelography. ( [1] / [2] ) which was thought to be due to venous intravasation associated with a traumatic lumbar tap. 1977 was also the year in which the International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine met in Utrecht. Later a report entitled "Myelographic media" was published in the journal