Ghost sign (cervical spine)

Last revised by Daniel J Bell on 24 Nov 2017

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Kurda D, Bell D, Gaillard F, et al. Ghost sign (cervical spine). Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 18 Apr 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-33863

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-33863

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/33863

rID:

33863

Article created:

27 Jan 2015, Dylan Kurda

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Dylan Kurda had no recorded disclosures.

View Dylan Kurda's current disclosures

Last revised:

24 Nov 2017, Daniel J Bell ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Daniel J Bell had no recorded disclosures.

View Daniel J Bell's current disclosures

Revisions:

5 times, by 5 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Musculoskeletal

Sections:

Signs

Synonyms:

Ghost sign

The ghost sign is a feature that has been described in a clay shoveler fracture as seen on the AP projection of a cervical spine radiograph. It is caused by the appearance of a "double spinous process" on C6 or C7 resulting from caudal displacement of the avulsed spinous process fragment, giving the appearance of two smaller spinous processes, one immediately on the top of the other.