Spina bifida occulta mimicking a destructive lesion.
OBJECTIVE
To discuss an unusual presentation of spina bifida occulta (SBO) mimicking an aggressive bone lesion.


METHODS
A 59-yr-old man suffered from intermittent neck pain. The plain film radiographs revealed rarefaction of the C6 spinous process that mimicked an aggressive bone lesion. Computed tomography and previous radiographs of the region confirmed an SBO defect of the C6 level.


RESULTS
Supportive therapy was applied to the patient for his presenting neck complaint. Chiropractic manipulative treatment was not applied to the lower cervical spine until the possibility of an aggressive bone lesion was excluded.


CONCLUSIONS
An unusual presentation of SBO was presented. This case demonstrated the usefulness of specialized imaging to further delineate questionable anatomical presentations, which at times mimic destructive bone lesions.
DeBono
V
V
National College of Chiropractic Clinics-Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Marchiori
D M
DM
D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016136:Spina Bifida Occulta / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed