title: Cervical ribs: identification on MRI and clinical relevance.
abstract: To determine the prevalence of cervical ribs on cervical spine MRI and clinical relevance, we reviewed 2500 studies for cervical ribs and compression of neurovascular structures and compared to CT, when available. Brachial plexus or subclavian artery contact by cervical rib was identified on MRI and/or CT in 12 cases with diagnosis of thoracic outlet syndrome in one. Cervical ribs were identified on 1.2% (25/2083) of examinations, lower than on CT (2%), but MRI may offer equivalent anatomic explanation for patient symptoms.
authors.affiliation: The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD 21287.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Walden
authors.forename: Mehmet E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Adin
authors.forename: Ravindran
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Visagan
authors.forename: Valentina G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Viertel
authors.forename: Jarunee
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Intrapiromkul
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Maluf
authors.forename: Neil V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Fatma
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Alluwaimi
authors.forename: Doris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Yousem
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D057070:Cervical Rib / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes; D015995:Prevalence; D013348:Subclavian Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D013901:Thoracic Outlet Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
keywords: CT; Cervical ribs; MRI; Thoracic outlet syndrome