Yonsei Med J.  2009 Feb;50(1):45-49. 10.3349/ymj.2009.50.1.45.

Radiological Analysis of Ponticulus Posticus in Koreans

• Cho YJ

• KMID: 1782966
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2009.50.1.45

Abstract

PURPOSE: Since there has been little reporting on the prevalence or morphologic characteristics of ponticulus posticus in Asians, we retrospectively reviewed cervical 3-dimensional CT scan images and plain radiographs which had been ordered by neurosurgeons or orthopaedic surgeons for evaluation of cervical spine problems to investigate the prevalence and morphologic features of the ponticulus posticus in Koreans.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
The presence and types of ponticulus posticus were investigated on 200 consecutive cervical 3-D CT scans.
RESULTS
Thirty-one patients, 48 ponticulus posticus, complete or partial, bilateral or unilateral, were identified on the 200 cervical 3-D CT scans; therefore, the prevalence was 15.5% in our patient population. In plain radiographs analysis, the prevalence was 6.95%.
CONCLUSION
The ponticulus posticus is a relatively common anomaly in Koreans. Therefore, proper identification of this anomaly on preoperative lateral radiographs should alert surgeons to avoid using the ponticulus posticus as a starting point for a lateral mass screw. Because of its size and shape have wide variation, 3-D CT scanning should be considered before lateral mass screw placement into the posterior arch if its presence is suspected or confirmed on radiographs.

Keyword

Ponticulus posticus; atlas; arcuate foramen

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Cervical Atlas/*abnormalities/*radiography
Female
Humans
Imaging, Three-Dimensional
Korea/epidemiology
Male
Middle Aged
Musculoskeletal Abnormalities/*ethnology/*radiography
Prejudice
Prevalence
Retrospective Studies
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Young Adult

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Various morphologic types of ponticuli posticus seen on posterior view of 3-D CT images. (A) Bilateral complete, (B) Complete on the right side and partial on the left, (C) Bilateral partial, (D) Unilateral partial on the left side.

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