Learning objectives
The aim of this educational exhibit is to provide a brief images - based overview of most common cervical spine anatomical variants in adults which correct recognition is vital,
especially in emergency cases of neck trauma.
Thorough knowledge of normal variants imaging patterns prevents from misinterpretation of findings and subsequent overimaging of patient and generation of unnecessary costs.
Background
A review of literature was performed using serch terms such as vertebral column and cervical spine normal anatomy,
normal variants of vertebral bodies and neural arch of atlas and axis etc.
From a selection of cases available in our institution we chose the best to clearly depict most common cervical spine anatomical variants in adults.
Findings and procedure details
Normal anatomical variants of cervical spine are not common findings.
Also in most cases asymtomatic and seen incidently during post trauma imaging.
In questionable scenario especially post trauma,
normal variants may be easily misinterpreted as pathology if their knowledge is deficient.
There are number of normal ossification patterns in children,
especially including axis and atlas bones often mimicking pseudotrauma which review is not included.
Also presentation of all normal variants in adults would exceed capacity of this exhibit,
therefore we depicted the most common which...
Conclusion
Correct identification of non pathological normal anatomical variants of cervical spine plays vital role in daily basis practice.
It prevents from misinterpretation of findings and subsequent overimaging of patient and generation of unnecessary costs.
References
1.Robert B.
Carr,
Kathleen R.
Tozer Fink,
and Joel A.
Gross Imaging of Trauma: Part 1,
Pseudotrauma of the Spine? Osseous Variants That May Simulate Injury.
American Journal of Roentgenology 2012 199:6,
1200-1206.
2.https://www.mypacs.net/cases/UNUNITED-OSSIFICATION-CENTER-FOR-SPINOUS-PROCESS-NORMAL-VARIANT-11033922.html