Twenty meningomyelocele patients (4-10 yr old) with nonfunctional ventricular shunts or no shunts were studied radiologically. This group was compared to a 2nd group of 4 patients (1 1/2-8 yr old) with functional shunts. The various techniques were compared and discussed. Pantopaque ventriculography is a potentially dangerous procedure. Radioisotope ventriculography appears to be a safe and useful method of diagnosing syringohydromyelia. Ventricular decomposition by means of a shunt appears to be an effective treatment.