A rare condition in the differential diagnosis of hard, fixed neck masses: Elongated transverse process of atlas

Abstract

Twenty eight years old female patient presents with 1cm in diameter, hard and painless swelling in the left side of the neck. On physical examination; 1cm in size, rigid, painless and fixed mass was detected in the left retromandibular area. Cervical computerized tomography (CT) scan was performed. The elongation of left transverse process of atlas giving misleadingly the impression of a neck mass was observed in CT scan. In the literature, the elongation of transverse process of the seventh cervical vertebra is common but clinical conditions depending on the elongation of transverse process of atlas is very rare. Surgical intervention was not considered because the patient does not have any complaint other than palpable mass. As in this case, elongated transverse process vertebra (atlas) as a rare condition must be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis of rigid and fixed neck masses. J Clin Exp Invest 2015; 6 (1): 59-60. Key words: Transverse process, atlas, neck mass

Keywords

• Transverse process, atlas, neck mass

A rare condition in the differential diagnosis of hard, fixed neck masses: Elongated transverse process of atlas

Öz

Yirmi sekiz yaşında kadın hasta boynunun sol tarafında 1 cm çapında sert, ağrısız, şişlik şikayeti ile başvurdu. Yapılan fizik muayenede sol retromandibuler bölgede 1cm boyutunda, sert, ağrısız ve fikse kitle tespit edildi. Servikal bilgisayarlı tomografi (BT) tetkiki yapıldı. Bilgisayarlı tomografide boyun kitlesi taklit eden, atlas sol transvers prosesi’nin elongasyonu tespit edildi. Literatürde, yedinci servikal vertebra, transvers prosesi’nin elongasyonu yaygındır fakat atlas transvers prosesi’nin elongasyonuna bağlı klinik durumlar çok nadirdir. Hastanın palpabl kitle dışında herhangi bir şikayeti olmadığı için cerrahi müdahale düşünülmedi. Nadir bir durum olan vertebra (atlas) transvers process elongasyonu, sert ve fikse boyun kitlelerinin ayırıcı tanısında akılda tutulmalıdır

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Transvers çıkıntı, atlas, boyun kitlesi

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