Imaging Sci Dent.  2018 Sep;48(3):223-226. 10.5624/isd.2018.48.3.223.

Multiple intraosseous cervical pneumatocysts: A case report of a rare incidental finding on cone-beam computed tomography

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Diagnostic and Biomedical Sciences, The University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston, Houston, TX, USA. aniket.b.jadhav@uth.tmc.edu
  • 2Department of General Practice and Dental Public Health, The University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
  • 3University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

Abstract

This report presents a case of cervical pneumatocysts as an incidental finding on cone-beam computed tomography. Pneumatocysts are gas-containing lesions of unknown etiology. They usually present in the ilium or sacrum, adjacent to the sacroiliac joint. In the literature, 21 case reports have described cervical pneumatocysts. Cervical pneumatocysts should be differentiated from other lesions, such as osteomyelitis, osteonecrosis, and neoplasms, as well as post-traumatic and post-surgical cases. Computed tomography, cone-beam computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging are appropriate tools to diagnose cervical pneumatocysts.

Keyword

Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; Bone Cysts; Intraosseous Pneumatocyst; Cervical Vertebrae

MeSH Terms

Bone Cysts
Cervical Vertebrae
Cone-Beam Computed Tomography*
Female
Ilium
Incidental Findings*
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Osteomyelitis
Osteonecrosis
Sacroiliac Joint
Sacrum

Figure

  • Fig. 1 Sagittal cone-beam computed tomographic image shows cystic lesions (#1 and #2) with sclerotic margins on C-2 and C-4.

  • Fig. 2 Sagittal cone-beam computed tomographic image shows a large cystic lesion (#3) with sclerotic margins on the right lateral mass of C-3.

  • Fig. 3 Sagittal cone-beam computed tomographic image shows a small cystic lesion (#4) with sclerotic margin on the left lateral mass of C-3.

  • Fig. 4 Sagittal cone-beam computed tomographic image shows a small cystic lesion (#5) with sclerotic margins on C-4.

  • Fig. 5 Sagittal cone-beam computed tomographic image shows small cystic lesions (#6 and #7) with sclerotic margins on articular processes of C-3 and C-4.

  • Fig. 6 Sagittal cone-beam computed tomographic image shows a small cystic lesion (#8) with sclerotic margin on C-2.


Reference

1. Sen D, Satija L, Saxena S, Rastogi V, Singh M. Intraosseous pneumatocyst of the cervical vertebra. Med J Armed Forces India. 2015; 71:380–383.
Article
2. Matsukubo Y, Kashiwagi N, Uemura M, Tatsumi S, Takahashi H, Hyodo T, et al. Intravertebral pneumatocysts of the cervical spine. Neuroradiology. 2013; 55:1341–1344.
Article
3. Coşar M, Eser O, Aslan A, Korkmaz S, Boyaci G, Değirmenci B, et al. Vertebral body pneumatocyst in the cervical spine and review of the literature. Turk Neurosurg. 2008; 18:197–199.
4. Kitagawa T, Fujiwara A, Tamai K, Kobayashi N, Saiki K, Omata S, et al. Enlarging vertebral body pneumatocysts in the cervical spine. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2003; 24:1707–1710.
5. Yamamoto T, Yoshiya S, Kurosaka M, Nagira K, Takabatake M, Hamamoto H, et al. Natural course of an intraosseous pneumatocyst of the cervical spine. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2002; 179:667–669.
6. Arslan G, Ceken K, Cubuk M, Ozkaynak C, Luleci E. Vertebral pneumatocysts. Acta Radiol. 2001; 42:20–23.
Article
7. Sunder S, Prasad R. Vertebral body pneumatocyst in the cervical spine - a case report. Apollo Med. 2008; 5:121–124.
8. Husain MA, Tetradis S, Mallya SM. Intraosseous pneumatocysts of the cervical spine: a report of four cases and review of literature. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol. 2015; 119:e49–e54.
Article
9. Laufer L, Schulman H, Hertzanu Y. Vertebral pneumatocyst. A case report. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1996; 21:389–391.
10. Renshaw H, Patel A, Boctor DS, Hakmi MA. ‘Abnormal’ cervical imaging?: Cervical pneumatocysts - a case report of a cervical spine pneumatocyst. J Orthop. 2015; 12:Suppl 1. S83–S85.
Article
11. Ramirez H Jr, Blatt ES, Cable HF, McComb BL, Zornoza J, Hibri NS. Intraosseous pneumatocyst of the ilium. Findings on radiographs and CT scans. Radiology. 1984; 150:503–505.
12. Oehler E, Valour F, Pascart T. Intraosseous pneumatocysts: a case based review. Clin Rheumatol. 2013; 32:129–134.
Article
13. Nakayama T, Ehara S, Hama H. Spontaneous progression of vertebral intraosseous pneumatocysts to fluid-filled cysts. Skeletal Radiol. 2001; 30:523–526.
Article
14. Karasick D, Eason MA. Vertebral pneumatocyst mimicking susceptibility artifact on MR imaging. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1998; 170:221.
Article
Full Text Links
  • ISD
Actions
Cited
CITED
export Copy
Close
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Similar articles
Copyright © 2024 by Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors. All rights reserved.     E-mail: koreamed@kamje.or.kr