Imaging diagnosis of thoracic OPLL and OLF

Abstract

Introduction Although ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) is often detected on cervical radiographs, OPLL can also develop in the thoracic spine. It is important to note that the incidence of ossification of the ligamentum fl avum (OLF) of the thoracic spine is high. Because ossification of the spinal ligaments is a disease involving systemic ossification of the ligaments, it often occurs in multiple locations simultaneously. The symptoms associated with compressive spinal cord lesions in the neck usually fi rst appear in the upper extremities, and thoracic or lumbar spine lesions should be suspected if gait disorders or sensory disorders of the lower extremities occur. When lower extremity tendon refl exes are exaggerated without any symptoms in the upper extremity, the probability of lumbar myelopathy is low, whereas that of thoracic myelopathy is high. © Springer 2006.