title: Cervical myelopathy caused by hypoplasia of the atlas and ossification of the transverse ligament--case report.
abstract: A 79-year-old Japanese female presented with symptomatic cervical myelopathy caused by a hypoplastic posterior arch of the atlas and ossification of the transverse ligament. Neuroradiological examination demonstrated a hypoplastic posterior arch of the atlas and ossification of the transverse ligament. The cervical spinal cord was compressed at the level of the atlas by both the hypoplastic posterior arch of the atlas and the ossification of the transverse ligament. The patient underwent C-1 laminectomy, which arrested the progressive myelopathy and resulted in a good recovery. Atlas hypoplasia with ossification of the transverse ligament may be associated with Asian ethnicity.
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgery Division, Kitaibaraki Municipal Hospital, Kitaibaraki, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Wataro
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tsuruta
authors.forename: Kiyoyuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yanaka
authors.forename: Masao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okazaki
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matsumura
authors.forename: Tadao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nose
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001270:Cervical Atlas / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008022:Ligaments / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D009999:Ossification, Heterotopic / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D011859:Radiography; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*