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AJNR - American Journal of Neuroradiology

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American Journal of Neuroradiology 27:1962-1963, October 2006
© 2006 American Society of Neuroradiology

Case Report
SPINE

A Nodular Calcification of the Alar Ligament Simulating a Fracture in the Craniovertebral Junction

K.-B. Sim^a and J.K. Park^b

^a Department of Neurosurgery, College of Medicine, Cheju National University Hospital, Jeju City, South Korea
^b Department of Radiology, College of Medicine, Cheju National University Hospital, Jeju City, South Korea

Please address correspondence to Ki-Bum Sim, MD, Department of Neurosurgery, College of Medicine, Cheju National University Hospital, 690–716, #154, 3-Do 2-Dong, Jeju City, South Korea; e-mail: kibumsim{at}gmail.com

SUMMARY: We report a case of an incidental nodular calcification of the alar ligament simulating a fracture in the craniovertebral junction of a previously healthy 24-year-old man. Three-dimensional CT and MR imaging revealed a 7.2 x 7.6 x 4.0 mm nodular calcification in the right alar ligament with normal adjacent bony structures. Serial cervical dynamic radiographs and open-mouth views showed that the cervical spine was stable without any change in the calcification.