title: Cross-sectional area of posterior extensor muscles of the cervical spine in asymptomatic subjects: a 10-year longitudinal magnetic resonance imaging study.
abstract: There has been no prospective study on age-related changes of the extensor muscles of the cervical spine in healthy subjects. This study was conducted to elucidate any association between the changes in cross-sectional area of the extensor muscles of the cervical spine on MRIs and cervical disc degeneration or the development of clinical symptoms. Sixty-two subjects who underwent MR imaging by a 1.5-Tesla machine between 1993 and 1996 as asymptomatic volunteers in a previous study were recruited again 10 years later for this follow-up study. The mean interval between the studies was 11.0 ± 0.7 years. The cross-sectional areas of the multifidus, semispinalis cervicis, semispinalis capitis, and splenius capitis at C3-C4, C4-C5, and C5-C6 intervertebral levels were measured on T2-weighted axial images using Image J 1.42. The mean cross-sectional areas of the deep extensor muscles were 1,396.8 ± 337.6 mm(2) at the C3-C4 level, 1,514.7 ± 381.0 mm(2) at the C4-C5 level, and 1,542.8 ± 373.5 mm(2) at the C5-C6 level in the previous investigation. The cross-sectional areas were 1,498.7 ± 374.4 mm(2) at the C3-C4 level, 1,569.9 ± 390.9 mm(2) at the C4-C5 level, and 1,599.6 ± 364.3 mm(2) at the 10-year follow-up. An increase in the cross-sectional area of the muscles was more frequently observed in subjects in their tens to thirties in the initial study, while a decrease was more frequently observed in those in their forties and older in the initial study. Disc degeneration was not correlated with a change in extensor muscle volume. Development of shoulder stiffness during follow-up was significantly negatively correlated with a change in the cross-sectional area of the deep extensor muscles.
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University, Shinanomachi 35, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan.
authors: Eijiro
authors: E
authors: Okada
authors: Morio
authors: M
authors: Matsumoto
authors: Daisuke
authors: D
authors: Ichihara
authors: Kazuhiro
authors: K
authors: Chiba
authors: Yoshiaki
authors: Y
authors: Toyama
authors: Hirokazu
authors: H
authors: Fujiwara
authors: Suketaka
authors: S
authors: Momoshima
authors: Yuji
authors: Y
authors: Nishiwaki
authors: Takeshi
authors: T
authors: Takahata
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D009929:Organ Size; D011446:Prospective Studies