PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - K Miyasaka
AU  - K Kaneda
AU  - S Sato
AU  - Y Iwasaki
AU  - S Abe
AU  - H Takei
AU  - M Tsuru
AU  - K Tashiro
AU  - H Abe
AU  - Y Fujioka
TI  - Myelopathy due to ossification or calcification of the ligamentum flavum: radiologic and histologic evaluations.
DP  - 1983 May 01
TA  - American Journal of Neuroradiology
PG  - 629--632
VI  - 4
IP  - 3
4099  - http://www.ajnr.org/content/4/3/629.short
4100  - http://www.ajnr.org/content/4/3/629.full
SO  - Am. J. Neuroradiol.1983 May 01; 4
AB  - The clinical, radiologic, and histologic features of ossification and calcification of the ligamentum flavum were studied in 18 patients. Ossification (15 patients) usually occurred in the lower thoracic spine in men of various ages, while calcification (three patients) was found exclusively in the cervical region of older women. Histologic examinations of ossification showed mature lamellar bone associated with proliferated cartilage replacing the ligamentum flavum (endochondral ossification). This corresponded well with radiographic and computed tomographic (CT) appearances. In the cases with calcification of the ligamentum flavum, calcification within the degenerated ligamentous fibers was observed on histologic examination, and correlated well with an oval nodular density on radiographs and CT. The two conditions differ in clinical, radiologic, and histologic considerations. Pathomechanisms in the development of these lesions and clinical significance are also discussed.