Presentation
Patient of Japanese descent with pain in the right arm and numbness in the left hand.
Patient Data
The lateral plain film shows ossification along the posterior C5 and C6 vertebral bodies.
CT scan images show ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament from C4 through C7.
MRI shows thickening and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament from about C4 through T3. Spinal stenosis is noted with mild cord compression at C6-7.
Case Discussion
Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) is a relatively common cause of spinal stenosis in Japanese patients, most frequently involving the cervical spine. Males are more frequently involved than females and the 5th decade of life is a common time for symptoms to develop. As can be seen in this case MRI and CT are very sensitive and specific studies for this disease with findings sometimes being subtle on plain films.
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