Abstract
PurposesThe knowledge of the developing cervical spine and its individual vertebrae, including their neural processes may be useful in the diagnostics of congenital vertebral malformations. This study was performed to quantitatively examine the neural ossification centers of the atlas and axis with respect to their linear, planar and volumetric parameters.MethodsUsing the methods of CT, digital-image analysis and statistics, the size of neural ossification centers in the atlas and axis in 55 spontaneously aborted human fetuses aged 17–30 weeks was studied.ResultsWithout any male–female and right–left significant differences, the best fit growth dynamics for the neural ossification centers of the atlas and axis were, respectively, modelled by the following functions: for length: y = −13.461 + 6.140 × ln(age) ± 0.570 and y = −15.683 + 6.882 × ln(age) ± 0.503, for width: y = −4.006 + 1.930 × ln(age) ± 0.178 and y = −3.054 + 1.648 × ln(age) ± 0.178, for cross-sectional area: y = −7.362 + 0.780 × age ± 1.700 and y = −9.930 + 0.869 × age ± 1.911, and for volume: y = −6.417 + 0.836 × age ± 1.924 and y = −11.592 + 1.087 × age ± 2.509.ConclusionsThe size of neural ossification centers of the atlas and axis shows neither sexual nor bilateral differences. The neural ossification centers of the atlas and axis grow logarithmically in both length and width and linearly in both cross-sectional area and volume. The numerical data relating to the size of neural ossification centers of the atlas and axis derived from the CT and digital-image analysis are considered specific-age reference values of potential relevance in both the ultrasound monitoring and the early detection of spinal abnormalities relating to the neural processes of the first two cervical vertebrae in the fetus.
Highlights
A review of the literature in relation to the spinal ossification centers has displayed various methods used for their assessment: from histologic through radiographic to modern imaging methods, such as ultrafast NMR [5] and 3D ultrasound [21, 31]
Using the methods of CT, digital-image analysis and statistics, the size of neural ossification centers in the atlas and axis in 55 spontaneously aborted human fetuses aged 17–30 weeks was studied
The numerical data relating to the size of neural ossification centers of the atlas and axis derived from the CT and digital-image analysis are considered specific-age reference values of potential relevance in both the ultrasound monitoring and the early detection of spinal abnormalities relating to the neural processes of the first two cervical vertebrae in the fetus
Summary
A review of the literature in relation to the spinal ossification centers has displayed various methods used for their assessment: from histologic through radiographic to modern imaging methods, such as ultrafast NMR [5] and 3D ultrasound [21, 31]. The ossification process in cervical vertebrae is quite intricate and discussable [5, 11, 12, 14,15,16]. There are three ossification centers per vertebra within cervical vertebrae C3–C7, one in its body and one in either neural arch. The three ossification centers occur: one located in its anterior arch and two located in its posterior arch. The four ossification centers are observed in the axis: one in its body, one in its dens and one in either neural process
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