Radiological analysis of ponticulus posticus in Koreans.
OBJECTIVE
Since there has been little reporting on the prevalence or morphologic characteristics of ponticulus posticus in Asians, we retrospectively reviewed cervical 3-dimensional CT scan images and plain radiographs which had been ordered by neurosurgeons or orthopaedic surgeons for evaluation of cervical spine problems to investigate the prevalence and morphologic features of the ponticulus posticus in Koreans.


METHODS
The presence and types of ponticulus posticus were investigated on 200 consecutive cervical 3-D CT scans.


RESULTS
Thirty-one patients, 48 ponticulus posticus, complete or partial, bilateral or unilateral, were identified on the 200 cervical 3-D CT scans; therefore, the prevalence was 15.5% in our patient population. In plain radiographs analysis, the prevalence was 6.95%.


CONCLUSIONS
The ponticulus posticus is a relatively common anomaly in Koreans. Therefore, proper identification of this anomaly on preoperative lateral radiographs should alert surgeons to avoid using the ponticulus posticus as a starting point for a lateral mass screw. Because of its size and shape have wide variation, 3-D CT scanning should be considered before lateral mass screw placement into the posterior arch if its presence is suspected or confirmed on radiographs.
Cho
Yong Jae
YJ
Department of Neurosurgery, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. yongcho@ewha.ac.kr
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001270:Cervical Atlas / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009139:Musculoskeletal Abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000208:ethnology*; D011287:Prejudice; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult