Occipitocondylar hyperplasia: an unusual craniovertebral junction anomaly causing myelopathy. Case report

J Neurosurg. 2005 Oct;103(4 Suppl):379-81. doi: 10.3171/ped.2005.103.4.0379.

Abstract

The authors of this brief case report describe a previously unreported developmental variant of the craniovertebral junction. A 10-year-old girl who presented with cervical myelopathy was found to have cervicomedullary compression by hypertrophic occipital condyles. Decompression was achieved via a midline dorsal approach with no complications. The embryology of this area is briefly reviewed to attempt to explain the origin of this anomaly.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Neck
  • Occipital Bone / abnormalities*
  • Occipital Bone / diagnostic imaging
  • Spinal Cord Compression / etiology*
  • Spinal Cord Diseases / etiology*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed