The cervical spine checklist is just one of the many pathology checklists that can be used when reporting to ensure that you always actively exclude pathology that is commonly missed; this is particularly helpful in the examination setting, e.g. the FRCR 2B rapid-reporting.
Radiograph
Although superseded by CT in many acute situations, the cervical spine is commonplace in an exam setting will have been primarily performed because of a history of trauma and/ or pain.
Alignment
- craniocervical dissociation
- anterolithesis
- retrolisthesis
- atlantoaxial subluxation (flexion/ extension views)
- facet dislocation
- basilar invagination
Vertebral bodies
- odontoid fracture
- Jefferson fracture (pseudo-Jefferson fracture)
- hangman fracture
- extension teardrop fracture
- flexion teardrop fracture
- crowned dens
- pathological fracture
- wedge fracture
- ivory vertebrae
Posterior elements
Intervertebral discs/ endplates
- degenerative disc disease
- Modic type 3 endplate changes
- sickle cell disease
- ochronosis
- diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH)
- ankylosing spondylitis - chalk stick fracture