title: [3.0T-MR high resolution proton density weighted imaging for transverse cervical ligament in healthy adolescents].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the imaging characteristics of the transverse ligament in healthy adolescents, and further understand the imaging characteristics of the ligament injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used 3.0T-MR to scan the transverse ligament with proton-weighted sequence in 32 young volunteers, scanned coronally, horizontally and sagittally, and then observed the morphology, thickness, running and signal characteristics of the ligament.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The anatomy and signal characteristics of the transverse cervical ligament were clearly displayed by high resolution proton density weighted imaging (PDWI). The whole picture of the transverse ligament was effectively displayed by coronal combined with horizontal image. The transverse ligament was located in the rear of the odontoid, and connected to the inside of both sides of the block like half-arc. The length was (20.4±3.3) mm, the ligament center was the thickest, and both sides gradually became thinner. The middle width of the ligament was (7.3±0.6) mm, the ligament ends narrowed down, and the middle was (2.1±0.4) mm thick; 75% of the transverse ligament showed homogeneous low signal in PDWI, while 25% of the local transverse ligament had high signal.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High resolution PDWI with 3.0T-MR is a effective method to evaluate the structure of the transverse cervical ligament. Local high signal may not necessarily be the sign of ligament injure. There may also be some high signal in the normal adolescent ligament, so we must pay much attention to clinical diagnosis and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Affiliated Haikou Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Haikou 570208; Department of Radiology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410013,China.
authors.forename: Jianqiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Guibin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Xiangjun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Ziyi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D006801:Humans; D008022:Ligaments / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D011522:Protons
chemical_list: D011522:Protons