Calcification of the alar ligament mimics fracture of the craniovertebral junction (CVJ): an incidental finding from computerised tomography of the cervical spine following trauma
When performing a radiological assessment for a trauma case with associated head injury, a fragment of dense tissue detected near the craniovertebral junction would rapidly be assessed as a fractured bone fragment. However, if further imaging and evaluation of the cervical spine with computerised to...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Universiti Sains Malaysia Press.
2009
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| Online Access: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/1233/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/1233/1/Calcification_of_the_Alar_Ligament_Mimics_Fracture.pdf |
| _version_ | 1848775816247246848 |
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| author | Che Mohamed, Siti Kamariah Abd. Aziz, Azian |
| author_facet | Che Mohamed, Siti Kamariah Abd. Aziz, Azian |
| author_sort | Che Mohamed, Siti Kamariah |
| building | IIUM Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | When performing a radiological assessment for a trauma case with associated head injury, a fragment of dense tissue detected near the craniovertebral junction would rapidly be assessed as a fractured bone fragment. However, if further imaging and evaluation of the cervical spine with computerised tomography (CT) did not demonstrate an obvious fracture, then the possibility of ligament calcification would be considered. We present a case involving a previously healthy 44-year old man who was admitted following a severe head injury from a road traffic accident. CT scans of the head showed multiple intracrania haemorrhages, while scans of the cervical spine revealed a small, well-defined, ovoid calcification in the right alar ligament. This was initially thought to be a fracture fragment. Although such calcification is uncommon, accident and emergency physicians and radiologists may find this useful as a differential diagnosis in patients presenting with neck pain or traumatic head injury. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T14:20:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | iium-1233 |
| institution | International Islamic University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T14:20:12Z |
| publishDate | 2009 |
| publisher | Universiti Sains Malaysia Press. |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | iium-12332013-04-26T10:24:16Z http://irep.iium.edu.my/1233/ Calcification of the alar ligament mimics fracture of the craniovertebral junction (CVJ): an incidental finding from computerised tomography of the cervical spine following trauma Che Mohamed, Siti Kamariah Abd. Aziz, Azian R Medicine (General) When performing a radiological assessment for a trauma case with associated head injury, a fragment of dense tissue detected near the craniovertebral junction would rapidly be assessed as a fractured bone fragment. However, if further imaging and evaluation of the cervical spine with computerised tomography (CT) did not demonstrate an obvious fracture, then the possibility of ligament calcification would be considered. We present a case involving a previously healthy 44-year old man who was admitted following a severe head injury from a road traffic accident. CT scans of the head showed multiple intracrania haemorrhages, while scans of the cervical spine revealed a small, well-defined, ovoid calcification in the right alar ligament. This was initially thought to be a fracture fragment. Although such calcification is uncommon, accident and emergency physicians and radiologists may find this useful as a differential diagnosis in patients presenting with neck pain or traumatic head injury. Universiti Sains Malaysia Press. 2009 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://irep.iium.edu.my/1233/1/Calcification_of_the_Alar_Ligament_Mimics_Fracture.pdf Che Mohamed, Siti Kamariah and Abd. Aziz, Azian (2009) Calcification of the alar ligament mimics fracture of the craniovertebral junction (CVJ): an incidental finding from computerised tomography of the cervical spine following trauma. Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences, 16 (4). pp. 69-72. ISSN 1394-195X http://www.mjms.usm.my/default.asp?tag=14&kod_volume=30 |
| spellingShingle | R Medicine (General) Che Mohamed, Siti Kamariah Abd. Aziz, Azian Calcification of the alar ligament mimics fracture of the craniovertebral junction (CVJ): an incidental finding from computerised tomography of the cervical spine following trauma |
| title | Calcification of the alar ligament mimics fracture of the craniovertebral junction (CVJ): an incidental finding from computerised tomography of the cervical spine following trauma |
| title_full | Calcification of the alar ligament mimics fracture of the craniovertebral junction (CVJ): an incidental finding from computerised tomography of the cervical spine following trauma |
| title_fullStr | Calcification of the alar ligament mimics fracture of the craniovertebral junction (CVJ): an incidental finding from computerised tomography of the cervical spine following trauma |
| title_full_unstemmed | Calcification of the alar ligament mimics fracture of the craniovertebral junction (CVJ): an incidental finding from computerised tomography of the cervical spine following trauma |
| title_short | Calcification of the alar ligament mimics fracture of the craniovertebral junction (CVJ): an incidental finding from computerised tomography of the cervical spine following trauma |
| title_sort | calcification of the alar ligament mimics fracture of the craniovertebral junction (cvj): an incidental finding from computerised tomography of the cervical spine following trauma |
| topic | R Medicine (General) |
| url | http://irep.iium.edu.my/1233/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/1233/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/1233/1/Calcification_of_the_Alar_Ligament_Mimics_Fracture.pdf |