Do key measurement parameters derived from specific cervical vertebral segments differ between lordotic and non-lordotic cervical spine alignments? A study of asymptomatic young adults.

BACKGROUND: Measurement parameters derived from specific cervical vertebral segments (e.g., C2 slope) can provide clinicians with important information on cervical sagittal balance and guide pre- and post-surgical decision-making processes. It is unclear however, what constitutes typical values for these types of measurements in an asymptomatic population of young adults, whether values change depending upon the classification of the cervical spine's global alignment, and if any non-lordotic cervical subtypes display values that are comparable to those reported for pre-surgery patients. METHODS: Neutral lateral cervical radiographs of 150 asymptomatic participants (18-30 years) were taken. Global cervical alignment was classified as lordotic or one of four non-lordotic subtypes using a multi-method subtyping protocol. Four key measurement parameters - the anterior translation of the head measure (ATHM), C0-C2 angle, C2 slope, and C7 slope - were derived from specific cervical segments. Independent samples t-tests were used to compare lordotic and non-lordotic groups. RESULTS: There was considerable variation in the four key measurement parameters amongst this asymptomatic population of young adults. Thirty-four percent of the sample were classified as lordotic and 66% were classified as non-lordotic. There was a significant difference (p ≤ 0.0125) between lordotic and non-lordotic groups for the C0-C2 angle, C2 slope and C7 slope. There was no difference between groups for the ATHM (p ≥ 0.0125). Within the non-lordotic group, the global-kyphotic (GK) subtype had the largest mean C2 slope, largest mean C0-C2 angle, and smallest mean C7 slope. CONCLUSIONS: Long term prospective investigations are required to determine whether possible biomarkers (alignment parameters/radiological measurements) for spinal degenerative changes can be identified so that early interventions can be put in place to try and reduce the impact of neck pain on society.

C-arm CT guided percutaneous vertebroplasty for pain release in cancer patient with cervical 1 vertebral metastases: A case report.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and treatment outcome of C-arm CT percutaneous vertebroplasty in the treatment of cervical 1 (C1) vertebral metastases. METHODS: This report recruited a male patient diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma and C1 vertebral metastases, who had suffered from severe neck pain symptoms and the analgesic showed little soothing effect. Under the guidance of C-arm CT, an 18G coaxial needle was used to puncture the left lateral mass of C1 vertebral metastases from lateral space between thyroid cartilage and the left carotid sheath, with 2 ml bone cement injected. RESULTS: Postoperative C-arm CT three-dimensional reconstruction scan showed that the bone cement was well filled and distributed in the left lateral mass of C1 vertebral body, and no leakage of bone cement was observed. The neck pain of the patients was significantly relieved one week after the operation. CONCLUSION: Under the guidance of C-arm CT, cement augmentation using percutaneous vertebroplasty in an anterior cervical direction could serve as a safe and effective pain relief approach for patients with C1 vertebral metastases.

Eagle Syndrome: An Unusual Cause of Axial Neck Pain: A Case Report.

CASE: A 42-year-old woman presented with left-sided axial neck pain with radiation behind left ear of 3 months unresponsive to conservative treatment. As clinical examination revealed tenderness anterior to the mastoid process, she was referred to an otolaryngologist. Computed tomography showed an elongated left styloid process. Diagnostic local anesthetic infiltration provided complete pain relief confirming the diagnosis of Eagle syndrome (ES) after which a transoral excision of the left styloid process was performed. She was asymptomatic till the final follow-up of 15 months. CONCLUSION: ES should be considered in differential diagnosis of axial neck pain radiating to ear, and excision of the styloid process in resistant cases provides complete pain relief.

MRI order appropriateness for chronic neck pain: Comparison of ordering practices and treatment outcomes for primary care physicians and specialists.

Chronic neck pain is a common reason for doctor visits in the United States. This diagnosis can be evaluated through patient history, physical examination, and judicious use of radiographs. However, possible inappropriate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) ordering persists. We hypothesized that no difference in ordering practices, ordering appropriateness, and subsequent intervention would be appreciated regarding physician specialty, location, patient characteristics, and history and physical exam findings. A multisite retrospective review of cervical spine MRI between 2014 and 2018 was performed. A total of 332 patients were included. Statistical analysis was used to assess MRI order appropriateness, detail of history and physical exam findings, and intervention decision-making among different specialties. If significant differences were found, multiple linear regression was performed to evaluate the association of MRI order appropriateness regarding physician specialty, location, patient characteristics and history, and physical exam findings. The significance level for all tests was set at <0.05 Orthopedic surgeons ordered MRIs most appropriately with an average American College of Radiology (ACR) score of 8.4 (p < 0.005). Orthopedic surgeons had more comprehensive physical exams as compared to the remaining specialties. The decision for intervention did not vary by physician specialty or ACR score, except for patients of pain medicine physicians who received pain management (p = 0.000). Orthopedic surgeons utilize MRI most appropriately and have more comprehensive physical exams. These findings suggest a need for increased physician education on what indicates an appropriate MRI order to improve the use of resources and further protect patient risk-benefit profiles. Further research elucidating factors to minimize negative findings in "appropriate" MRIs is indicated. Clinical significance: More detailed physical exams may lead to more appropriately ordered MRIs, subsequently resulting in surgery or procedures being performed when appropriately indicated. This suggests the need for increased physician education on when MRI ordering is appropriate for chronic neck pain to improve the use of resources and further protect patient risk-benefit profiles.

Neck Pain Secondary to Post Radiation Fibrosis Managed With Ultrasound-Guided Adhesiolysis.

BACKGROUND: Radiation therapy may result in complications, including fibrosis, which can result in pain and difficulty with movement - especially in the neck. CASE PRESENTATION: A 52-year-old man with right-sided vague neck pain unresponsive to conservative management had a computed tomography scan that showed a vagal paraganglioma in the carotid sheath surrounding the right carotid arteries and internal jugular vein. Following radiation therapy, he noticed a new pain in his right jaw and neck worse with certain movements of the neck. Nonsurgical conservative measures including physical therapy and pharmacological management were unsuccessful. An ultrasound evaluation demonstrated fibrosis beneath the sternocleidomastoid muscle and in proximity to the carotid sheath. After careful trajectory planning using ultrasound imaging, a 25 G needle was introduced real time in proximity to the fibrosis. Using a dexamethasone/saline mixture under real-time ultrasound guidance, adhesions were released. After 3 injections, the patient reported greater than 90% pain relief, which lasted 4 months. Subsequently, he required similar injections approximately every 3 months to achieve greater than 75% pain relief. CONCLUSIONS: This is a successful demonstration of the utility of ultrasound evaluation and guidance for adhesiolysis following radiation therapy.

Loss of cervical lordosis in chronic neck pain patients with fibromyalgia: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Some interrelationships among fibromyalgia (FM), loss of cervical lordosis (LCL), and headache have been reported. Thus, it is sensible to examine LCL as a factor underlying FM and headache. OBJECTIVE: In this study we aimed to assess LCL in chronic neck pain patients (CNPP) with FM and its association with headache features and FM severity. METHODS: CNPP with (n= 55; mean age 40.0 ± 8.5; range 20 to 55 years) and without FM (n= 55; mean age 38.5 ± 8.9; range 20 to 55 years) were included in the study. Cervical lordosis was assessed by measuring the Cobb angle on the lateral cervical radiographs. The patients were asked about headache features within the last month. In addition, the CNPP with FM were evaluated by the Turkish version of the Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in terms of age, weight, height, body mass index, working status, and neck pain duration (p> 0.05 for each). The CNPP with FM had significantly reduced cervical lordosis angle compared with those without. The CNPP with FM had significantly higher headache frequency than those without (p= 0.008). There was statistically significant negative correlation between cervical lordosis angle and headache frequency in the CNPP with FM (r: -0.336; p= 0.012). CONCLUSION: According to the results of this study, LCL may be associated with FM and headache frequency in the CNPP with FM.

Quantitative ultrasound to assess efficacy of treatment for neck somatic dysfunctions: a feasibility study.

CONTEXT: Neck pain is a common complaint in healthcare clinics. Although the pathogenesis of neck pain is often multifactorial, trapezius muscle dysfunction has been commonly linked to neck pain. Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) has been demonstrated to be an effective treatment modality in treating trapezius muscle dysfunction and neck pain. However, there is a current lack of objective, quantitative measures to assess the effectiveness of OMT. Through previous research, ultrasound technology has been shown to be promising in its ability to quantify tissue changes both pre- and post-OMT. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study are to evaluate the feasibility of shear wave elastography (SWE) in assessing upper trapezius muscles with pain and hypertonicity, as well as the changes in these muscles post-OMT for cervical somatic dysfunctions. METHODS: After obtaining approval from the Rocky Vista University Institutional Review Board and written informed consent from participants, SWE and osteopathic assessments were performed on 22 adult participants with and without cervical spine somatic dysfunction. Participants with positive osteopathic assessments of tissue texture, asymmetry, restricted motion, and/or tenderness (TART) were treated utilizing OMT. Shear wave velocity (SWV, m/s) and shear wave velocity rate [SWVR = (SWV contraction - SWV relaxation)/ SWV relaxation] of the upper trapezius muscles with and without pain and hypertonicity, and before and after OMT, were examined utilizing a two-tailed t-test. RESULTS: SWV in muscle contraction and SWVR were significantly lower in muscles with pain compared to muscles without pain (p≤0.01). SWV in muscle contraction was also significantly lower in hypertonic muscles compared to normotonic muscles (p<0.01). Following OMT, SWV in muscle contraction and SWVR in muscles with pain and hypertonic increased significantly (p≤0.01). Overall TART score of all muscles with somatic dysfunction (SD) after OMT significantly decreased (p<0.01). SWV in muscle contraction and SWVR in hypertonic muscles were also significantly increased (p≤0.03), with an improvement index of 0.11 and 0.20. CONCLUSIONS: This study's results demonstrate the feasibility of utilizing SWE to evaluate somatic dysfunctions of the upper trapezius musculature and the efficacy of OMT for neck somatic dysfunctions.

Ultrasound-guided Versus Computed Tomography Fluoroscopy-assisted Cervical Transforaminal Steroid Injection for the Treatment of Radicular Pain in the Lower Cervical Spine: A Randomized Single-blind Controlled Noninferiority Study.

OBJECT: To estimate the contrast dispersion short-term clinical efficacy and safety of ultrasound (US)-guided transforaminal steroid injection (TFSI) compared with computed tomography (CT) guidance for the treatment of cervical radicular pain. METHOD: A total of 430 patients with cervical radicular pain from cervical herniated disk or cervical spondylosis were recruited in the randomized, single-blind, controlled, noninferiority trial. The patients were randomly assigned to receive either the US-guided or CT-guided TFSI for 1 affected cervical nerve. The dispersion pattern of contrast was monitored at the time of TFSI in both groups, using CT. Patients were assessed for pain intensity by numeric rating scale (NrS) and functional disability by Neck Disability Index (NDI) at baseline, 1 and 3 months after the intervention. Complications were also recorded. RESULTS: The satisfactory rate of contrast distribution was respectively 92.1% in US group and 95.8% in CT group. Pain reduction and functional improvement were showed in both groups during follow-up. Statistical difference was not observed in the decrease in NRS pain scores and NDI scores between 2 groups with F =1.050, P =0.306 at 1 month and F =0.103, P =0.749 at 3 months after intervention. No permanent and severe complications were observed. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that US provided a noninferior injectate spread pattern and similar improvement of radicular pain and functional status when compared with CT-guided TFSI. US may be advantageous during this procedure because it allows visualization of critical vessels and avoids radiation exposure.

Comparison of Clinical Guidelines for Authorization of MRI in the Evaluation of Neck Pain and Cervical Radiculopathy in the United States.

The American College of Radiology has published appropriateness criteria to help guide when to use MRI. Many health insurance carriers use proprietary clinical guidelines for prior authorization of imaging studies. The purpose of this study was to compare the specific criteria in those guidelines, for neck pain both with and without radicular symptoms. An online search was conducted to identify the guidelines for authorization of cervical spine MRI used by the largest commercial insurance carriers in the United States by market share. Guidelines were analyzed for neck pain with and without radiculopathy. Cervical trauma, myelopathy, infection, neoplasm, multiple sclerosis, and postprocedural care were excluded. The remaining criteria were broken down into categories including clinical symptoms, conservative therapy, other required radiologic studies, and clinical re-evaluation. Individual criteria within each of the categories were compared. After evaluation of the top 56 insurance companies in the United States, 30 companies using four main utilization management companies remained for analysis. After direct comparison of publicly available guidelines documents, notable discrepancies existed between the four companies in all subcategories analyzed. In addition, varying amounts of evidence-based literature was identified to support criteria requirements for prior authorization. This study demonstrates that the guidelines used by private health insurance companies for cervical MRI authorization in the setting of neck pain with and without cervical radiculopathy are inconsistent and use objective measures that have not been validated in the literature. We think this warrants additional scrutiny and investigation.

Utility of Repeat MRI in Patients With Degenerative Cervical Disease.

Existing guidelines regarding indications for initial cervical spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) do not indicate when to perform repeat MRI in patients with previously documented degenerative disease. This study evaluates the efficacy of repeat MRI in patients with previously diagnosed degenerative cervical disease. Between 2013 and 2018, 153 patients (102 women, 51 men; mean age, 55 years; range, 19-81 years) without a history of trauma or surgery underwent cervical spine MRI 2 or more times at our institution indicated for symptoms of neck pain with or without radiculopathy. The MRI reports of repeat studies were reviewed and compared with index studies for notable changes. Notable radiographic changes were defined as any progression of the existing degenerative disease. Fifty-three of 153 (35%) patients demonstrated progression on repeat MRI. Forty-nine of the 53 patients demonstrating progression had new or worsening symptoms prior to their follow-up study (P=.03). Twenty-nine of 35 (83%) patients with new or worsening radiculopathy progressed on MRI (P<.01). Nine of 10 (90%) patients with new upper motor neuron findings demonstrated progression (P=.01). Axial neck pain alone was not statistically linked to MRI progression (P=.1). Twenty-five (16.3%) patients underwent operative management for their disease. Only 12 (48.0%) of the surgical patients presented MRI progression (P=.1). In the absence of new or worsening degenerative cervical symptoms, additional MRI studies are unlikely to reveal any radiographic progression or change clinical management from nonoperative to operative. [Orthopedics. 2023;46(2):98-102.].

Cervical sagittal balance: a predictor of neck pain after anterior cervical spine surgery?

PURPOSE: To determine the possible relation between cervical sagittal balance and neck pain in patients having anterior cervical spine (ACS) surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective monocentric study on 85 patients who underwent ACS surgery between 2014 and 2016. Clinically, all patients were assessed using the Neck Disability Index (NDI). Radiological assessment was achieved by MRI or CT-scan of the cervical spine allowing measurement of radiological parameters for preoperative cervical sagittal balance. These same criteria were measured postoperatively using X-rays. RESULTS: There is a statistically significant increase in the Cobb angle postoperatively (10.34 degrees) compared to preoperatively (6.68 degrees) (p < 0.05). Concomitantly, there is a statistically significant decrease in NDI postoperatively (22.69%) compared to preoperatively (42.31%) (p < 0.01). There is a negative correlation between Cobb angle and NDI (r= -0.31) (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: An improvement in the cervical sagittal balance after ACS surgery is accompanied by a reduction of neck pain. Radiological parameters of cervical sagittal balance may be taken into account when planning surgery in order to maintain cervical alignment and thereby limit the occurrence of neck pain.

Clinical significance of the C2 slope after multilevel cervical spine fusion.

OBJECTIVE: The C2 slope (C2S) is one of the parameters that can determine cervical sagittal alignment, but its clinical significance is relatively unexplored. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical significance of the C2S after multilevel cervical spine fusion. METHODS: A total of 111 patients who underwent multilevel cervical spine fusion were included in this study. The C2S, cervical sagittal vertical axis (cSVA), C2-7 lordosis, and T1 slope (T1S) were measured in standing lateral cervical spine radiographs preoperatively and 2 years after the surgery. Clinical outcome measures were visual analog scale (VAS) neck and arm pain scores, Neck Disability Index (NDI), Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scale score, and patient-reported subjective improvement rate (IR) percentage. Statistical analysis was performed using a paired-samples t-test and Pearson's correlation, and a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve to determine the cutoff values of C2S. RESULTS: C2S demonstrated a significant correlation with the cSVA, C2-7 lordosis, T1S, and T1S minus cervical lordosis. C2S revealed a significant correlation with the JOA, neck pain VAS, and NDI scores at 2 years after surgery. Change in the C2S correlated with postoperative neck pain and NDI scores. ROC curves demonstrated the cutoff values of C2S as 18.8°, 22.25°, and 25.35°, according to a cSVA of 40 mm, severe disability expressed by NDI, and severe myelopathy, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: C2S can be an additional cervical sagittal alignment parameter that can be a useful prognostic factor after multilevel cervical spine fusion.

The type of cervical disc herniation on MRI does not correlate to clinical outcomes.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to investigate whether the type of cervical disc herniation influences the severity of symptoms at the time of presentation, and the outcome after surgical treatment. METHODS: The type and extent of disc herniation at the time of presentation in 108 patients who underwent anterior discectomy for cervical radiculopathy were analyzed on MRI, using a four-point scale. These were dichotomized into disc bulge and disc herniation groups. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the Neck Disability Index (NDI), 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36), and a visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain in the neck and arm at baseline and two years postoperatively. The perceived recovery was also assessed at this time. RESULTS: At baseline, 46 patients had a disc bulge and 62 had a herniation. There was no significant difference in the mean NDI and SF-36 between the two groups at baseline. Those in the disc bulge group had a mean NDI of 44.6 (SD 15.2) compared with 43.8 (SD 16.0) in the herniation group (p = 0.799), and a mean SF-36 of 59.2 (SD 6.9) compared with 59.4 (SD 7.7) (p = 0.895). Likewise, there was no significant difference in the incidence of disabling arm pain in the disc bulge and herniation groups (84% vs 73%; p = 0.163), and no significant difference in the incidence of disabling neck pain in the two groups (70.5% (n = 31) vs 63% (n = 39); p = 0.491). At two years after surgery, no significant difference was found in any of the clinical parameters between the two groups. CONCLUSION: In patients with cervical radiculopathy, the type and extent of disc herniation measured on MRI prior to surgery correlated neither to the severity of the symptoms at presentation, nor to clinical outcomes at two years postoperatively.Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2022;104-B(11):1242-1248.

Calcific tendinitis of the longus colli muscle. / Kalsifiserende tendinitt i m. longus colli.

BACKGROUND: Calcific tendinitis of the longus colli muscle is an aseptic inflammatory reaction to calcium hydroxyapatite crystal deposition in the cervical prevertebral space. CASE PRESENTATION: A 40-year-old woman presented with neck pain and odonyphagia. She had reduced mobility in her neck, tenderness to palpation and elevated CRP with normal leukocyte count and sedimentation rate. CT revealed a fluid collection in the retropharyngeal space and a calcific deposition in the longus colli muscle consistent with calcific tendinitis. She improved with NSAID therapy. Blood cultures taken on arrival showed no growth. INTERPRETATION: Acute calcific tendinitis of the longus colli muscle is an aseptic inflammatory process in the cervical prevertebral space and an important mimicker of retropharyngeal abscess and spondylodiscitis.

Un caso raro de cervicalgia / A rare case of cervicalgia

OBJETIVO Subrayar la importancia del diagnóstico detallado del dolor y realizar autocrítica por la tardanza diagnóstica de una cervicalgia mecánica. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS Se presenta una paciente con dolor súbito en el cuello, con radiografías y exploración normales. La resonancia magnética (RM) resultó aparentemente anodina y se trató como cervicalgia mecánica. Tras varias consultas con el Servicio de Urgencias, se realizó una radiografía que informó de anomalía entre las primeras vértebras y se amplió con una tomografía computarizada (TC) que reveló fractura de odontoides y destrucción de la segunda cervical de origen metastásico.RESULTADOS La paciente fue tratada con radioterapia más collarín cervical y varios ciclos de quimioterapia, y falleció a los dos años.DISCUSIÓN Los cánceres que más frecuentemente metastatizan en la columna vertebral son los de mama, pulmón y próstata, siendo las localizaciones más frecuentes la torácica (70%), la lumbar (20%) y, por último, la cervical (10%). Cuando el tumor se descubre como metástasis, como en nuestro caso, estos pacientes tienen una alta tasa de mortalidad. Según nuestro conocimiento, en la literatura hay pocos casos descritos de neoplasias descubiertas como fractura patológica de odontoides. CONCLUSIÓN El dolor cervical no mecánico debido a una metástasis en odontoides, a consecuencia de una neoplasia de pulmón no diagnosticada, es un caso raro en la literatura y de complejo diagnóstico, en que una historia clínica detallada de la evolución del dolor y la presencia de signos de alarma son de vital importancia para su sospecha y rápido diagnóstico, mediante técnicas como la RM.

OBJETIVE To underline the importance of a detailed diagnosis of pain and perform self-criticism regarding the delay in diagnosis of a case of mechanical cervicalgia. MATERIALS AND METHODS We present the case of a patient with sudden neck pain, with normal X-rays. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan was apparently unremarkable, and the condition was treated as mechanical cervicalgia. After several consultations in the Emergency Department, a new X-ray was performed, which showed an anomaly between the first vertebrae and is accompanied by a computed tomography (CT) scan that revealed a fracture of the odontoid apophysis and destruction of the second cervical vertebra of metastatic origin. RESULTS The patient was treated with radiotherapy plus cervical collar and several cycles of chemotherapy, and died two years later. DISCUSSION The cancers that most frequently metastasize to the spine are those of the breast, lung and prostate, with the most frequent location being thoracic (70%), lumbar (20%), and, finally, cervical (10%). When the tumor is discovered as a metastasis, as in our case, these patients have a high mortality rate. To our knowledge, few cases of neoplasms discovered as pathological fractures of the odontoid apophysis have been described in the literature. CONCLUSION Non-mechanical cervicalgia due to metastasis of the odontoid apophysis as a result of an undiagnosed lung neoplasm is a rare case in the literature and a complex diagnosis, in which a detailed clinical history of the evolution of pain and the presence of red flags are of vital importance for its suspicion and rapid diagnosis, through techniques such as MRI.

Neuropathic pain due to compression of cervical medial branch by cervical Juxtafacet cyst: A case report.

In the current report, we describe an interesting case of cervical juxtafacet that developed outside the intervertebral foramen, compressing the cervical medial branch and causing neuropathic pain in the posterior inferior neck pain. A 61-year-old woman visited a local pain clinic due to neuropathic pain with a tingling and burning nature (numeric rating scale [NRS]: 5 out of 10) on the left posterior inferior neck area for 4 months. Paresthesia was observed in the left posterior inferior neck area. On cervical radiography, segmental instability was observed at the C3-4 and C4-5 levels. Moreover, on the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the cervical spine, a cyst (size: 1.3 cm × 0.7 cm × 1 cm) was outside the intervertebral foramen, contacting the left C4-5 facet joint and left C5 articular pillar. We thought that the compression of the left C5 medial branch by the cyst could cause the patient's pain. We conducted computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous needle aspiration of a cervical juxtafacet cyst. An 18-gauge needle was advanced under the guidance of CT into the largest portion of the cyst through a posterolateral oblique approach. Gelatinous mucoid fluid (approximately 0.5 cc) was aspirated. Immediately after the aspiration, 80% of the patient's pain was disappeared, and dysesthesia was completely disappeared. At the 1-, 3-, and 6-month follow-ups, the patient reported slight pain (NRS: 1) on the left posterior inferior neck. Cervical juxtafacet cysts can develop outside of the intervertebral foramen and spinal canal. Percutaneous needle aspiration can be a useful therapeutic tool for the treatment of such cysts.

Longus colli tendinitis: acute neck pain with retropharyngeal swelling.

Longus colli tendinitis (LCT) has been described in several case reports, and is likely underdiagnosed due to its non-specific symptoms and self-limiting nature. It usually presents as acute neck pain with retropharyngeal swelling seen on nasoendoscopy and imaging studies. This may lead to unnecessary invasive interventions if physicians are unaware of the disease course. We discuss a case of LCT in a young woman who was treated at our institution, with recommendations on how to identify and treat such cases accurately without overtreatment.

Sonographic measurement of the neck extensor muscle thickness in patients with fibromyalgia.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to compare cervical extensor muscle thickness measurements in patients with fibromyalgia (FM) with chronic neck pain and an asymptomatic control group, and to examine the relationship between cervical extensor muscle thickness and pain, quality of life, and disability. METHODS: The study included 41 patients with FM and 41 asymptomatic control subjects. The thickness of the cervical extensor muscles (multifidus, semispinalis capitis, semispinalis cervicis, splenius capitis and trapezius muscles) was evaluated with ultrasonography. The severity of FM was evaluated with the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), neck disability with the Neck Disability Index (NDI) and pain severity with a Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). RESULTS: The mean sonographic thickness values of all the neck extensor muscles were significantly decreased in the FM group compared with the control group (p < 0.001). There were negative correlations between the FIQ and multifidus, splenius capitis and trapezius thickness values. NDI was significantly negatively correlated with multifidus and trapezius thickness. There was no significant correlation between neck extensor muscle thickness and age, duration of FM, and NRS scores. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated a decrease in cervical extensor muscle thickness in patients with FM with chronic neck pain. Cervical extensor muscle morphologies should be considered by the clinician when planning treatment in patients with FM with neck pain.

Cerebral Tuberculoma with Mild Posterior Cervical Pain as the Main Symptom Despite Extensive Brain Lesions.

A 59-year-old woman with a diabetes history experienced mild neck pain. A neurological examination revealed only mild neck stiffness. Magnetic resonance imaging showed extensive T2-weighted high-intensity lesions with patchy gadolinium enhancement mainly involving the white matter in the right parietal lobe. A cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed increased protein levels and pleocytosis. While QuantiFERON-TB Gold was positive, computed tomography (CT) and fluorodeoxyglucose on positron emission tomography-CT of the whole body showed no abnormal accumulation, suggesting tuberculosis. A brain biopsy revealed cerebral tuberculoma. As cerebral tuberculoma can show minimal neurological symptoms despite extensive lesions, a cautious examination and early treatment are required to prevent a devastating prognosis.

C2-C3 vertebral disc angle: An analysis of patients with and without cervical spondylotic myelopathy.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective analysis. OBJECTIVE: To define C2-C3 vertebral disc angle (VDA) in patients with and without cervical spondylotic myelopathy. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: C2-C3 VDA is a new radiological index of cervical spine alignment. Recent studies have suggested that high postoperative values are associated with greater mechanical complications in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy. However, normative values for patients without myelopathy has yet to be defined. METHODS: Patients with and without cervical myelopathy between 2017 and 2019 were included. Inclusion criteria were patients above 18 years of age with antero-posterior (AP) and lateral (LAT) cervical X-rays. In the non-myelopathic group, patients were excluded if they had neurological symptoms or deficits, presence of cervical axial pain, previous spinal surgery, or diagnosis of either spondylolisthesis or scoliosis. In the myelopathic group, patients were excluded if they had previous spinal surgery. Radiological indices evaluated include: C2-C3 disc angle, C2-C7 Cobb angle, C7 sagittal vertical axis, T1 slope. RESULTS: In total, 99 patients without myelopathy and 22 patients with myelopathy were identified and analyzed. In patients without myelopathy, the mean for C2-C3 VDA was 25.9±7.9. For patients with myelopathy, preoperative values were 24.4±10.0 and 27.1±7.9 postoperatively. No statistically significant differences were found between patients with and without myelopathy. C2-C3 disc angle was not correlated with age (R=-0.173). CONCLUSION: This study did not find statistically significant differences in C2-C3 VDA values between patients with and without cervical myelopathy. This study provides normative data for C2-C3 vertebral disc angle in patients with and without cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Furthermore, C2-C3 vertebral disc angle may be independent from age.