Sesamoid ossicles of the nuchal ligament
Last revised by Mostafa El-Feky on 2 Oct 2023
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Knipe H, El-Feky M, Niknejad M, et al. Sesamoid ossicles of the nuchal ligament. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 02 Dec 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-25728
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rID:
25728
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Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Henry Knipe had no recorded disclosures.
View Henry Knipe's current disclosuresLast revised:
2 Oct 2023, Mostafa El-Feky ◉
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Mostafa El-Feky had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Mostafa El-Feky's current disclosuresRevisions:
16 times, by 10 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures
Systems:
Sections:
Synonyms:
- Nuchal ligament sesamoid ossicle
- Fabella nuchae
- Nuchal ligamant ossification
- Ossification of ligamentum nuchae
Sesamoid ossicles of the nuchal ligament are a relatively common anatomical variant that are usually asymptomatic and most commonly occur at the C5-C6 or C6-C7 vertebral levels.
On this page:
Epidemiology
They occur in ~7.5% of the population, with a male predominance of 3:1 1.
Radiographic features
Plain radiograph
- well-defined, corticated, round or oval opacity on lateral projection
CT
- cortical bone with central marrow within the nuchal ligament
Differential diagnosis
- myositis ossificans
- Clay-shoveler fracture
- calcareous bursitis
- nuchal fibrocartilaginous pseudotumor
- heterotrophy in the secondary nucleus of the C6 spinous process
- calcium hydroxyapatite deposition disease
References
- 1. Paraskevas GK, Raikos A, Martoglou S et-al. Sesamoid ossicles within the nuchal ligament: a report of two cases and review of the literature. J Radiol Case Rep. 2011;5 (8): 22-9. doi:10.3941/jrcr.v5i8.708 - Free text at pubmed - Pubmed citation
- 2. Gokce E & Beyhan M. Evaluating Ossifications of the Nuchal Ligament with Cervical Computed Tomography. Eurasian J Med. 2018;50(1):23-7. doi:10.5152/eurasianjmed.2018.17314 - Pubmed
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Cases:
- Ossification of nuchal ligament
- Sesamoid ossicles of the nuchal ligament
- Intercalary bone
- Sesamoid ossicle of the nuchal ligament
- Sesamoid ossicles of the nuchal ligament
- Sesamoid ossicle of nuchal ligament
- Tracheal ring calcification and nuchal ligament calcification
- Nuchal ligament sesamoid
- Disc annulus calcification
- Fabella nuchae
- Fabella nuchae
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anatomical variants
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suboccipital muscle group
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spinal cord
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white matter tracts (white matter)
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dorsal columns
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