title: Rheumatoid arthritis of the cervical spine.
abstract: Rheumatoid arthritis most often affects the cervical spine, resulting in clinical and radiographic findings. For most patients with rheumatoid arthritis the cervical involvement represents a relatively benign process, but, in a small percentage of these patients, a progressive instability pattern develops that may compromise neural or vascular structures. The rate of neural compromise because of cervical instability ranges from 11% to 58%. The clinical manifestation may be radiculopathy, myelopathy, quadriplegia, and, in extreme instances, sudden death.
authors.affiliation: Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Rawlins
authors.forename: F P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Girardi
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Boachie-Adjei
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D009333:Neck; D011859:Radiography; D013131:Spine / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery