title: Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the spine.
abstract: "The Japanese disease" or ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the cervical spine was initially thought to affect only the Japanese people. Non-Japanese Asian and Caucasian cases have been reported but appear to be exceedingly rare. The reason is unknown. Although the disease appears to be generally benign, it can cause a myelopathy. We present here 16 non-Japanese patients in Singapore who were found to have ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008022:Ligaments / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009999:Ossification, Heterotopic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011859:Radiography; D012846:Singapore; D013131:Spine / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging