Spectrum of non-traumatic craniovertebral junction disorders

Introduction: Craniovertebral junction is the “zone of transition” between the skull and cervical spine so its detailed discussion is lacking in so many standard textbooks addressing these regions. These anomalies are especially common in the Indian subcontinent. Accurate diagnosis, probable aetiology and pre-treatment evaluation considerably affect the prognosis of patients. The aim of this study was to classify various Craniovertebral junction disorders according to their aetiology and to correlate the imaging findings with the clinical profile of the patients and histopathology whenever possible. Methods: This prospective observational study was done in our department over the period of one year from August 2016 to July 2017. 57 North Indian patients from all age groups and both sex, who had imaging features suggesting craniovertebral junction pathology were selected for the study. Results: Our study group comprised 34 males and 23 females with a male to female ratio of 1.47: 1. The most common age group was 11-20 years and the most common aetiology being developmental followed by infective, autoimmune and inflammatory disorders. Conclusions: CVJ abnormalities are a group of treatable neurological disorders, and are approached with much caution by clinicians. Thus, it is crucial that radiologists should be able to make a precise diagnosis, categorize them into etiological groups, and give precise anatomical information on MDCT and/or MRI, as this information ultimately helps determine the management of such abnormalities and their prognosis.