Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament and Ligamentum Flavum: Imaging Features

Toshinori Hirai; Yukunori Korogi; Mutsumasa Takahashi; Osamu Shimomura

doi:10.1055/s-2001-15657

Seminars in Musculoskeletal Radiology, Table of Contents

Semin Musculoskelet Radiol 2001; 05(2): 083-088
DOI: 10.1055/s-2001-15657

Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament and Ligamentum Flavum: Imaging Features

Toshinori Hirai¹ , Yukunori Korogi² , Mutsumasa Takahashi² , Osamu Shimomura³

¹Department of Radiology, Amakusa Medical Center, Kumamoto, Japan
²Department of Radiology, Kumamoto University School of Medicine, Kumamoto, Japan
³Department of Radiology, Kumamoto Orthopedic Hospital, Kumamoto, Japan

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Ossifications of the posterior longitudinal ligament and ligamentum flavum are both special subcategories of degenerative diseases responsible for compression of the spinal cord. Ossification of the ligaments is well demonstrated by plain radiography and computed tomography. Magnetic resonance imaging noninvasively provides useful information about the degree and extent of spinal cord compression as well as the character of the ossification. T2-weighted sequences are most effective to evaluate both spinal cord compression due to the ossification and abnormal signal intensity of the spinal cord.

KEYWORD

Ligaments - magnetic resonance studies - spinal cord - compression - spine

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References

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