Anomalous attachment of the transverse process to the vertebral body: an accessory finding in congenital absence of a lumbar pedicle.

A new case of congenital absence of a lumbar pedicle prompted a review of the English literature describing this rare defect. The majority of cases reported in detail were associated with anomalous attachment of a small ipsilateral transverse process directly to the posterior-lateral margin of the vertebral body. This sign is illustrated as a helpful accessory radiographic finding in congenital pedicle aplasia at a lumbar level.