A cone beam CT investigation of ponticulus posticus and lateralis in children and adolescents

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the prevalence and pathogenesis of ponticulus posticus (PP) and ponticulus lateralis (PL) in children and adolescents. Methods: Cone beam CT scans of 576 patients were examined for PP and PL. The patients were divided into three age groups: 10 years and younger, 11-13 years and 14 years and older. Ponticulus formation was categorized as absent, partial or complete. Gender, race and location (right, left or bilateral) were recorded. Data were analysed with the x 2 test, with significance at p , 0.050. Institutional review board approval was granted. Results: Overall prevalence of PP was 26.2%, with complete lesions in 10.4%. The frequency of PP was greater in patients aged 14 years and older (p # 0.038). The occurrence of complete PP was greater in patients aged 11 years and older (p 5 0.028). Lesions were more common in males (p 5 0.014) and in blacks compared with other non-white races (p 5 0.035). Bilateral PP was more common than right-sided lesions (p 5 0.008) and more frequent in the oldest cohort (p 5 0.006). Overall prevalence of PL was 6.1% (3.0% complete), with no differences between age groups, genders, races or by location. Conclusions: PP is not uncommon even in the first decade and increases in frequency, completeness of calcification and numbers in mid-adolescence. It appears to be more common in males and in blacks. PP may be a congenital osseous anomaly of the atlas that mineralizes at various times. PL is less frequent with no demographic predilections.

Investigation of the relationship between "Sella Turcica Bridge" and "Ponticulus Posticus": A Lateral Cephalometric Study

“…Association between sex and PP, sex and sella bridging (*significant). In this investigation, the overall prevalence of complete and incomplete PP was 25.3 %, similar to the results of some researchers (Geist et al;. Other authors, however, have reported a smaller percentage of PP (Unur et al; Sharma et al).…”

“…Ponticulus Posticus (PP) is a variation occuring on the atlas vertebra (Bayrakdar et al, 2014). The PP means "little posterior bridge" in latin (Geist et al;Sharma et al, 2010;Chitroda et al, 2013;Saokar & Nawale, 2014;Cho, 2009;Mudit et al, 2014). PP manifests as a partial or complete bony arch/bridge in the atlas vertebra (Pérez et al, 2014).…”

The feasibility of inserting a C1 pedicle screw in patients with ponticulus posticus: a retrospective analysis of eleven patients

“…As early as 1930, Kimmerle defined it as a malformed bony prominence between the posterior portion of the superior articular process and the posterolateral portion of the superior margin of the posterior arch of the atlas, termed Kimmerle's anomaly. This bony bridge has been called by different names, but ponticulus posticus is currently the most commonly used term [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. LampropoulouAdamidou et al reported a ''ponticulus posticus'' of axis [9].…”

Prevalence and Morphologic Characteristics of Ponticulus Posticus: Analysis Using Cone-Beam Computed Tomography

“…5,12 We, however, could find only a few studies [13][14][15] on its prevalence or morphological characteristics in an Asian population. This information on the posterior neural arch of C1 when performing lateral mass screw insertion is very important to avoid vertebral artery injury.…”