title: Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament: Imaging Findings in the Era of Cross-Sectional Imaging.
abstract: Imaging appearance and classification systems of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) on computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging will be reviewed. Computed tomography evaluation most accurately demonstrates OPLL length and thickness, whereas magnetic resonance imaging has the advantage of demonstrating abnormal signal in the cord. Neurologic symptoms are most common in the cervical spine and are related to the degree of spinal stenosis and presence of cord edema. Surgical treatment usually involves cases of cervical OPLL and includes anterior or posterior decompression.
authors.affiliation: From the *Department of Radiology, Howard University Hospital, Washington, DC; †Office of Medical Student Research, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC; and ‡Department of Radiology, Northwestern University Feinberg, School of Medicine, Chicago, IL.
authors.forename: Kamyar A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Sartip
authors.forename: Tuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Moses
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ndukwe
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: East
authors.forename: Joseph A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Graves
authors.forename: Bonnie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: F Allan
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Midyett
authors.forename: Andre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Duerinckx
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D017846:Longitudinal Ligaments / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D017887:Ossification of Posterior Longitudinal Ligament / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed