Which complication must be ruled out when performing cisternography?

When performing cisternography, tracer infiltration is a significant complication that must be ruled out because it can affect the accuracy and interpretation of the results. Cisternography is a nuclear medicine imaging technique used to visualize cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dynamics within the central nervous system. For this procedure, a radiopharmaceutical is typically injected into the subarachnoid space. If the tracer infiltrates surrounding tissues instead of remaining within the CSF pathways, this could lead to contaminated results, misinterpretation of the study, or inadequate visualization of the intended anatomy and physiological processes.

Infiltration can also lead to local complications at the injection site, potentially causing pain, swelling, or other adverse reactions. Therefore, it's essential for the technician to monitor the administration closely and ensure proper placement to avoid infiltration, making it a critical concern in this setting.