Home > Cases > Main Index > Case 59 | Variant Index  

SRS-X The SRS Educational Resource

Case 59

Bilateral cervical ribs

A cervical spine

Findings

There are bilateral cervical ribs.

Diagnosis

Bilateral cervical ribs

Discussion

These occur in 0.5-1% of the population. About 10% of these cause compressive symptoms, ranging from nerve compression (eg pain, paresthaesia and muscle wasting along the medial border of the hand) to subclavian artery post stenotic aneurysm. The remainder are aymptomatic, but are occasionally mistaken for a sinister mass lesion on clinical examination.

They may be large or small, single or bilateral, and may articulate with the first rib. If they consist only of a fibrous band they will not be visible on radiographs. They can be confused with hypoplastic first ribs; remember that the 7th cervical transverse processes point downwards, while the first thoracic transverse processes are angled upwards.

Main Index  |   Previous Case

Variant Index  |   Previous Case

Main Index as Unknowns

Variant Index as Unknowns