title: The degenerative cervical spine.
abstract: Imaging techniques provide excellent anatomical images of the cervical spine. The choice to use one technique or another will depend on the clinical scenario and on the treatment options. Plain-film X-rays continue to be fundamental, because they make it possible to evaluate the alignment and bone changes; they are also useful for follow-up after treatment. The better contrast resolution provided by magnetic resonance imaging makes it possible to evaluate the soft tissues, including the intervertebral discs, ligaments, bone marrow, and spinal cord. The role of computed tomography in the study of degenerative disease has changed in recent years owing to its great spatial resolution and its capacity to depict osseous components. In this article, we will review the anatomy and biomechanical characteristics of the cervical spine, and then we provide a more detailed discussion of the degenerative diseases that can affect the cervical spine and their clinical management.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Radiodiagnóstico, Hospital de la Ribera, Alzira, Valencia, España; Servicio de Neurocirugía, Hospital de la Ribera, Alzira, Valencia, España. Electronic address: Evallopis@gmail.com.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Llopis
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Radiodiagnóstico, Hospital de la Ribera, Alzira, Valencia, España; Servicio de Neurocirugía, Hospital de la Ribera, Alzira, Valencia, España.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Belloch
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Radiodiagnóstico, Hospital de la Ribera, Alzira, Valencia, España; Servicio de Neurocirugía, Hospital de la Ribera, Alzira, Valencia, España.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: León
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Radiodiagnóstico, Hospital de la Ribera, Alzira, Valencia, España; Servicio de Neurocirugía, Hospital de la Ribera, Alzira, Valencia, España.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Higueras
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Radiodiagnóstico, Hospital de la Ribera, Alzira, Valencia, España; Servicio de Neurocirugía, Hospital de la Ribera, Alzira, Valencia, España.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Piquer
mesh_terms: D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
keywords: Cervical myelopathy; Cervical spine; Columna cervical; Estenosis de canal; Magnetic resonance imaging; Mielopatía cervical; Resonancia magnética; Spinal canal stenosis