Takeuchi Mikinobu, Aoyama Masahiro, Wakao Norimitsu, Tawada Yuka, Kamiya Mitsuhiro, Osuka Koji, Matsuo Naoki, Takayasu Masakazu
Spine Center, Aichi Medical University Hospital, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan Department of Neurological Surgery, Aichi Medical University Hospital, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan
Department of Neurological Surgery, Aichi Medical University Hospital, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan.
Acta Radiol. 2016 Mar;57(3):318-24. doi: 10.1177/0284185115579078. Epub 2015 Apr 2.
Recently, various examination and intervention techniques using cervical nerve ultrasonography have been developed. The specific shapes of the C7 transverse process and vertebral artery in front of the C7 transverse process have become landmarks.
To determine the prevalence of anomalies and anomalous vertebral artery entrances at the C7 transverse process.
The records of patients who underwent plain or contrast-enhanced neck or cervical spine computed tomography (CT) were reviewed. The examinations were scored for the anomalous presence of anterior tubercles or cervical ribs as well as vertebral artery entrances in the C7 transverse process. The prevalence of anomalies was compared based on patient sex and age.
Evaluating the examinations from 2067 patients (1046 men; 1021 women), 1% of patients exhibited an anomalous presence of anterior tubercles, and 0.3% of patients displayed cervical ribs at the C7 transverse process. The prevalence of anomalies process was significantly higher in men aged less than 40 years than in older men (P < 0.001), whereas the prevalence was not higher in women aged less than 40 years than in older women. The prevalence of vertebral artery entry into the C7 transverse foramen was 0.6%.
Although an anomalous vertebral artery entry into the C7 transverse foramen was rare, the prevalence of an anomaly at the C7 transverse process was higher in men aged less than 40 years. Therefore, we recommend performing CT in younger men before cervical nerve ultrasonographic intervention to avoid misinterpretations at the cervical level.
近年来，已开发出多种使用颈神经超声的检查和干预技术。C7横突及C7横突前方椎动脉的特定形态已成为标志。
确定C7横突处异常及椎动脉异常入口的发生率。
回顾接受颈部平扫或增强CT或颈椎CT检查患者的记录。对检查结果进行评分，以确定C7横突处前结节或颈肋以及椎动脉入口的异常情况。根据患者性别和年龄比较异常的发生率。
对2067例患者（1046例男性；1021例女性）的检查进行评估，1%的患者C7横突处存在前结节异常，0.3%的患者C7横突处有颈肋。40岁以下男性的异常发生率显著高于老年男性（P < 0.001），而40岁以下女性的异常发生率并不高于老年女性。椎动脉进入C7横突孔的发生率为0.6%。
虽然椎动脉异常进入C7横突孔很少见，但40岁以下男性C7横突处的异常发生率较高。因此，我们建议在年轻男性进行颈神经超声干预前进行CT检查，以避免在颈部层面出现误诊。
