Publikation

Absent cervical spine pedicle and associated congenital spinal abnormalities - a diagnostic trap in a setting of acute trauma: case report

Wissenschaftlicher Artikel/Review - 09.11.2010

Bereiche
PubMed
DOI

Zitation
Guggenberger R, Andreisek G, Scheffel H, Wildermuth S, Leschka S, Stolzmann P. Absent cervical spine pedicle and associated congenital spinal abnormalities - a diagnostic trap in a setting of acute trauma: case report. BMC Med Imaging 2010; 10:25.
Art
Wissenschaftlicher Artikel/Review (Englisch)
Zeitschrift
BMC Med Imaging 2010; 10
Veröffentlichungsdatum
09.11.2010
eISSN (Online)
1471-2342
Seiten
25
Kurzbeschreibung/Zielsetzung

BACKGROUND: Congenital spinal abnormalities can easily be misdiagnosed on plain radiographs. Additional imaging is warranted in doubtful cases, especially in a setting of acute trauma. CASE PRESENTATION: This patient presented at the emergency unit of our university hospital after a motor vehicle accident and was sent to our radiology department for imaging of the cervical spine. Initial clinical examination and plain radiographs of the cervical spine were performed but not conclusive. Additional CT of the neck helped establish the right diagnosis. CONCLUSION: CT as a three-dimensional imaging modality with the possibility of multiplanar reconstructions allows for the exact diagnosis and exclusion of acute traumatic lesions of the cervical spine, especially in cases of doubtful plain radiographs and when congenital spinal abnormalities like absent cervical spine pedicle with associated spina bifida may insinuate severe trauma.