Calcified remnants of the notochord in the roof of the nasopharynx.
Seven cases of calcification in the roof of the nasopharynx are reported. These calcifications situated in the midline opposite the pharyngeal bursa, were associated in four patients with a neural or osseous defect of the craniocervical junction. The authors estimate the frequency of this asymptomatic calcification to be about 0.1%. This finding is thought to be a calcified remnant of the notochord.
D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000196:embryology*; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D009302:Nasopharyngeal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000196:embryology / Q000473:pathology; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000473:pathology; D009672:Notochord / Q000473:pathology*; D011859:Radiography; D014054:Tomography