[Phalanx-like osseous structure posterior to the cervical vertebrae: a hitherto unreported location for a rare anomaly].
Several types of abnormalities of the vertebral column have been reported. Pelvic rib or pelvic digit is a rare congenital anomaly of the spine. A 58-year-old male patient presented with a complaint of a firm mass in the neck. He had no history of trauma and had been aware of the mass for years. Physical examination showed a painless and immobile mass in the neck, measuring 4 x 1 cm. About 10 to 15 degrees of restriction was noted in neck movements, with slight pain. A plain radiograph of the cervical region showed two bony formations resembling a coccygeal segment or a phalanx, posterior to the spinous process of the C6 vertebra. They had well-defined cortices and medullae and pseudo-articulation between each other and with the spinous process. These findings were confirmed by three-dimensional computed tomography and magnetic resonance images. The patient did not accept surgery for the lesions were not associated with a significant discomfort. To our knowledge, such a digit has hitherto not been reported in the cervical region.
Atalar
Hakan
H
Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology (Ortopedi ve Travmatoloji Anabilim Dali), Medicine Faculty of Fatih University, Ankara, Turkey. atalarhakan@yahoo.com
Yavuz
Osman Y
OY
Doğruel
Halil
H
Catal
Sema Atalay
SA
Sayli
Uğur
U
D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography