Evaluation of the prevertebral soft tissue thickness by magnetic resonance imaging in patients with mild neck problem

Abstract

AIm:We encountered no study conducted on the evaluation of prevertebral soft tissue (PVST) thickness by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) during our literature search. Measuring PVST thickness by MRI in the cervical region of adult cases was aimed in the present retrospective study. mAterIAl and methOds: For the intended purpose, a total of 136 patients, composed of both males and females, with ages ranging from 20 to 69 years, in whom no pathology in the cervical prevertebral region was revealed by MRI modality implemented for various reasons, were included in the study. results:The upper limit of normal for PVST thickness was measured in our study to be 10 mm, 7 mm and 20 mm at C1, C2-C3 and C6-C7 vertebral levels, respectively. The least variation in the measurements and standard deviations were obtained at C3-C4 vertebral levels. Upon making a comparison between the measured PVST thicknesses on the basis of gender, the measurements at C2,C4 and C7 were found to display significant difference, whereas that was not the case for the measurements obtained at the other levels.COnClusIOn: Progressively widespread use of MRI for the traumas inflicting the cervical region makes it obligatory to specify normal values for the thickness of PVST measured by MRI. BulGulAr: Çalışmamızda PVYD kalınlığının üst sınırı C1 seviyesinde 10 mm, C2 ve C3 seviyesinde 7 mm, C6 ve C7 seviyesinde 20 mm olarak ölçüldü. En düşük değişkenlik ve standart deviasyon C2 ve C3 vertebra seviyelerinde bulundu. Cinsiyetlere göre olguların PVYD kalınlığı karşılaştırıldığında C2, C4 ve C7 seviyelerinde cinsiyetler arası farklılık önemli bulunurken diğer seviyelerde önemsiz bulundu. sOnuÇ: MRG'nin servikal spinal travmalarda giderek yaygın kullanımı MRG açısından PVYD kalınlığının normal değerlerini belirlemeyi zorunlu kılmaktadır.