Congenital Developmental Anomalies of Cervical Spine

  • Etiology:
  • Imaging of cervical vertebral body normal secondary ossification centers:
    — Can be seen until early adulthood
    — Do not confuse with fractures
  • Imaging of subdental synchondrosis
    — Odontoid process fuses with body of C2 at 6 years
    — Closes by 6 years but fusion line can be seen until age 12
    — Do not confuse with a fracture
  • DDX:
  • Complications:
  • Treatment:
  • Clinical: Congenital absence of posterior arch of C1 has increased risk of instability

Radiology Cases of Congenital Developmental Anomalies of Cervical Spine

Radiology Cases of Congenital Developmental Anomalies of Cervical Spine – Non-fusion of the C1 Synchondrosis

CT of non fusion of left synchondrosis of C1
Axial CT without contrast of the cervical spine shows non-fusion of the left synchondrosis in the C1 vertebral body.

Radiology Cases of Congenital Developmental Anomaly of the Cervical spine – Non-fusion of the Anterior and Posterior Arches of the C1 Vertebral Body and Hypoplasia of the Dens

3D CT of non-fusion of the anterior and posterior arches of the C1 vertebral body and hypoplasia of the dens
Anterior (left) and posterior (right) views of a 3D CT without contrast of the cervical spine show non-fusion of the anterior and posterior arches of the C1 vertebral body and hypoplasia of the C2 vertebral body.

Radiology Cases of Congenital Developmental Anomalies of Cervical Spine – Secondary Ossification Center of the Cervical Spine

Radiograph and CT of secondary accessory ossification center of vertebral body mimicking cervical spine fracture
Lateral radiograph of the cervical spine (left) shows a small ossific fragment anterior and superior to the C6 vertebral body. There is no prevertebral swelling and the alignment of the cervical spine is normal. Sagittal CT without contrast of the cervical spine (right) shows that the ossific fragment is well corticated.