The Spine Journal 14 (2014) 1079–1080
Cervical limbus vertebra presenting as a hypopharyngeal mass A 59-year-old female patient was referred to our radiology department with the complaints of cervical bolus sensation and dysphagia for 10 years. She had no history of significant medical problems. Endoscopic examination revealed a protrusion located through the posterior wall of the hypopharynx (Fig. 1). The initial diagnosis was a hypopharyngeal neoplasm, and magnetic resonance imaging and plain radiography were performed. Magnetic resonance imaging of neck showed a triangular smooth bone fragment at the superior end plate of C4 vertebrae and bulging of the posterior hypopharyngeal wall (Fig. 2). Lateral plain radiography of the cervical spine showed a triangular-shaped, well-corticated ossicle at the superior end plate of C4 vertebra (Fig. 3). This was consistent with the limbus vertebra.
Fig. 1. Laryngopharyngeal endoscopic examination reveals an exophytic mass (asterisk) sitting on the posterior wall of the hypopharynx.
1529-9430/$ - see front matter Ó 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.spinee.2014.02.021
Fig. 2. Sagittal T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of neck shows a separation of a triangular smooth bone fragment (arrow). Magnetic resonance imaging also reveals bulging of the posterior hypopharyngeal wall by the fragment.
Fig. 3. Lateral plain film examination of the cervical spine shows a triangular-shaped, well-corticated ossicle (arrow) at the superior end plate of C4.
1080
V. Mutlu and H. Ogul / The Spine Journal 14 (2014) 1079–1080
Vahit Mutlu, MD, PhDa Hayri Ogul, MDb a Department of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine Ataturk University Erzurum 25240, Turkey
b
Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine Ataturk University Erzurum 25240, Turkey
FDA device/drug status: Not applicable. Author disclosures: VM: Nothing to disclose. HO: Nothing to disclose.
Cervical limbus vertebra presenting as a hypopharyngeal mass A 59-year-old female patient was referred to our radiology department with the complaints of cervical bolus sensation and dysphagia for 10 years. She had no history of significant medical problems. Endoscopic examination revealed a protrusion located through the posterior wall of the hypopharynx (Fig. 1). The initial diagnosis was a hypopharyngeal neoplasm, and magnetic resonance imaging and plain radiography were performed. Magnetic resonance imaging of neck showed a triangular smooth bone fragment at the superior end plate of C4 vertebrae and bulging of the posterior hypopharyngeal wall (Fig. 2). Lateral plain radiography of the cervical spine showed a triangular-shaped, well-corticated ossicle at the superior end plate of C4 vertebra (Fig. 3). This was consistent with the limbus vertebra.
Fig. 1. Laryngopharyngeal endoscopic examination reveals an exophytic mass (asterisk) sitting on the posterior wall of the hypopharynx.
1529-9430/$ - see front matter Ó 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.spinee.2014.02.021
Fig. 2. Sagittal T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of neck shows a separation of a triangular smooth bone fragment (arrow). Magnetic resonance imaging also reveals bulging of the posterior hypopharyngeal wall by the fragment.
Fig. 3. Lateral plain film examination of the cervical spine shows a triangular-shaped, well-corticated ossicle (arrow) at the superior end plate of C4.
1080
V. Mutlu and H. Ogul / The Spine Journal 14 (2014) 1079–1080
Vahit Mutlu, MD, PhDa Hayri Ogul, MDb a Department of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine Ataturk University Erzurum 25240, Turkey
b
Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine Ataturk University Erzurum 25240, Turkey
FDA device/drug status: Not applicable. Author disclosures: VM: Nothing to disclose. HO: Nothing to disclose.
