title: Incidence and age and gender profiles of hyperplasia in individual cervical vertebrae.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the incidence and age and gender profiles of hyperplasia in individual cervical vertebrae.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this retrospective study, computed tomography three-dimensional reconstruction images of cervical vertebrae from patients with neck discomfort were analyzed for the presence of hyperplasia and compared with age and gender data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Scans from a total of 580 patients (352 males, 228 females) were analyzed. The highest incidence of hyperplasia was seen in C2 (25%), followed by C1 (23%), C6 (16%), C5 (15%), C7 (9%), C4 (8%) and C3 (4%). Patients with C2 hyperplasia were the youngest and those with C1 hyperplasia were the second youngest, while patients with C7 hyperplasia were the oldest. Of those with C2, C1 and C7 hyperplasia, males were significantly younger than females, whereas of those with C3, C4, C5 and C6 hyperplasia, females were significantly younger than males.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hyperplasia of the cervical spine shows different age and gender profiles among the seven vertebrae. These findings may be helpful for the early recognition of cervical hyperplasia and highlight the importance of protecting the atlanto-axial joint in daily life.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province, China Department of Radiology, Taian City Central Hospital, Shandong Province, China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province, China Department of Radiology, Taian City Central Hospital, Shandong Province, China.
authors.forename: Shuyong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Taian City Central Hospital, Shandong Province, China kongqingkui2015@126.com.
authors.forename: Qingkui
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Taian City Central Hospital, Shandong Province, China.
authors.forename: Haitao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Taian City Central Hospital, Shandong Province, China.
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province, China.
authors.forename: Guangbin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cervical vertebrae; age; gender; hyperplasia