• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.178-181
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• 2011

Congenital anomalies in arches of the atlas are rare, and are usually discovered incidentally. However, a very rare subgroup of patients with unique radiographic features is predisposed to transient quadriparesis after minor cervical or head trauma, A 46-year-old male presented with a 2-month history of tremor and hyperesthesia of the lower extremities after experiencing a minor head trauma. He said that he had been quadriplegic for about 2 weeks after that trauma. Radiographs of his cervical spine revealed bilateral bony defects of the lateral aspects of the posterior arch of C1 and a midline cleft within the anterior arch of the atlas. A magnetic resonance imaging revealed an increased cord signal at the C2 level on the T2-weighted sagittal image. A posterior, suboccipital midline approach for excision of the remnant posterior tubercle was performed. The patient showed significant improvement of his motor and sensory functions. Since major neurologic deficits can be produced by a minor trauma, it is crucial to recognize this anomaly.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.258-261
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• 2012

Posterior neck pain is a common complaint of patients in the pain clinic. The atlas (C1) burst fracture is known to be a cause of posterior neck pain and instability. Although the atlas burst fracture and instability can be discovered by plain X-rays which show lateral mass displacement or widening of the atlantodental interval, assessment of an atlas burst fracture can be difficult if there is no instability in the imaging study. Here we report a case of a 46-year-old female patient who had complained of sustained posterior neck pain for 6 months. Plain X-rays showed only disc space narrowing at C4/5 and C5/6, without any cervical instability. However, an unrecognized C1 lateral mass fracture was detected by CT and MRI. The patient's pain was then successfully treated after atlantoaxial joint injection with a C2 DRG block.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.164-166
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• 2012

Penetrating injuries to the upper cervical spine resulting from gunshots are rare in South Korea due to restrictions of gun use. Moreover, gunshot wounds to the upper cervical spine without neurological deficits occur infrequently because of the anatomic location and surrounding essential structures. We present an uncommon case involving the surgical removal of a bullet located in the anterior arch of first cervical vertebra (C1) via a transoral approach without neurological complications or subsequent mechanical instability.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.134-142
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• 2019

Purpose: The aim is to study the dependence of deformable based auto-segmentation of head and neck organs-at-risks (OAR) on anatomy matching for a single atlas based system and generate an acceptable set of contours. Methods: A sample of ten patients in neutral neck position and three atlas sets consisting of ten patients each in different head and neck positions were utilized to generate three scenarios representing poor, average and perfect anatomy matching respectively and auto-segmentation was carried out for each scenario. Brainstem, larynx, mandible, cervical oesophagus, oral cavity, pharyngeal muscles, parotids, spinal cord, and trachea were the structures selected for the study. Automatic and oncologist reference contours were compared using the dice similarity index (DSI), Hausdroff distance and variation in the centre of mass (COM). Results: The mean DSI scores for brainstem was good irrespective of the anatomy matching scenarios. The scores for mandible, oral cavity, larynx, parotids, spinal cord, and trachea were unacceptable with poor matching but improved with enhanced bony matching whereas cervical oesophagus and pharyngeal muscles had less than acceptable scores for even perfect matching scenario. HD value and variation in COM decreased with better matching for all the structures. Conclusion: Improved anatomy matching resulted in better segmentation. At least a similar setup can help generate an acceptable set of automatic contours in systems employing single atlas method. Automatic contours from average matching scenario were acceptable for most structures. Importance should be given to head and neck position during atlas generation for a single atlas based system.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.149-160
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• 1973

The osteology of the atlas of phyllostomatid bats is considered. The presence of two prominent ventral spines, a midventral tubercle and accessory processes on the transverse processes are noted. Functional consideration of the atlas is presented by a study of the myology of the upper cervical region of Artibeus lituratus. Consideration is given to possible phylogenetic implications.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.522-527
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• 2009

Objective : Atlantal arch defects are rare. Few cadaveric and imaging studies have been reported on the variations of such anomalies. Our goal in this study was to examine the incidence and review the clinical implications of this anomaly. Methods : A retrospective review of 1,153 neck or cervical spine computed tomography (CT) scans was performed to identify patients with atlantal arch defects. Neck CT scans were performed in 650 patients and cervical spine CT scans were performed in 503 patients. Posterior arch defects of the atlas were grouped in accordance with the classification of Currarino et al. In patients exhibiting this anomaly, special attention was given to defining associated anomalies and neurological findings. Results : Atlantal arch defects were found in 11 (11/1153, 0.95%) of the 1,153 patients. The type A posterior arch defect was found in nine patients and the type B posterior arch defect was found in two patients. No type C, D, or E defects were observed. One patient with a type A posterior arch defect had an anterior atlantal-arch midline cleft (1/1153, 0.087%). Associated cervical spine anomalies observed included one $C_{6-7}$ fusion and two atlantal assimilations. None of the reviewed patients had neurological deficits because of atlantal arch anomalies. Conclusion : Most congenital anomalies of the atlantal arch are found incidentally during investigation of neck mass, neck pain, radiculopathy, and after trauma.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.81 no.3
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• pp.654-664
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• 2020

Purpose To determine the frequency of ossification of the transverse ligament of the atlas (OTLA) and to investigate the associated findings on cervical spine CT and plain radiography. Materials and Methods We reviewed 5201 CT scans of the cervical spine of 3975 consecutive patients over an 11-year period for the presence of OTLA and compared them with those of age- and sex-matched controls. The frequency and associated findings of OTLA were investigated and statistically correlated. Results The overall frequency of OTLA was 1.1% (45 of 3975 patients) and increased with age (p < 0.005). The frequency of OTLA in patients over 80 years was 12%. The space available for the spinal cord (SAC) was smaller in patients with OTLA (p < 0.005). Mineralization of the complex of the anterior atlantooccipital membrane and Barkow ligament, ossification of the ligamentum flavum, and kyphosis of the cervical spine positively correlated to the presence of OTLA (p < 0.005). Conclusion OTLA was associated with age, SAC narrowing, cervical kyphosis, and ossification of other cervical ligaments and may be associated with degenerative spondylosis, systemic hyperostotic status, or mechanical stress or instability.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.99-108
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• 2000

This study was performed to investigate the effect of suboccipital stretch on the head and neck posture and the electromyographic(EMG) activity of some cervical muscles. For this study, 39 patients with temporomandibular disorders(TMD) and 34 dental students without any signs and symptoms in the masticatory system were selected as the patients group and as the normal group, respectively. Head position by goniometer CROM$^{(R)}$(Performance attainment, St. Paul, USA), EMG activity by BioEMG$^{(R)}$(Bioresearch Inc., Milwaukee, USA), and craniocervical posture by cephaloradiography were observed in both natural head posture(NHP) and head posture with suboccipital stretch(tuck posture) abtained from slight posteroinferior finger pressure on the chin. Variables measured on the cephaloradiograph were SN angle, atlas angle, CVT angle, occiput-atlas and atlas-axis distance, and pharyngeal width. The data obtained were analysed by SPSS windows program and the results of this study were as follows : 1. In the sagittal plane, degree of anterior rotation of the head by suboccipital stretch was 6.3 in the patients group, and 6.2 in the normal group, respectively. So there was no significant difference between the two groups for degree of anterior rotation, but the position of the head in the patients group were more posteriorly extended than in the normal group in both NHP and tuck posture. 2. EMG activity of the stemocleidomastoideus in the patients group, and that of the upper trapezius and the sternocleidomastoideus in the normal group were increased by suboccipital stretch. The range of EMG activity, however, in these cervical muscles were 1.6 -2.3)u.V. 3. Cephalometric variables such as SN angle, atlas angle, CVT angle, occiput-atlas and atlas-axis distance except pharyngeal width were generally increased by suboccipital stretch. There was some difference, however, in results between the two groups. Atlas angle was not changed in the patients group whereas CVT angle was not changed in the normal group. 4. The distance from subocciput to spinous process of axis was significantly increased as much as 3.0mm in the patients group, and 3.7mm in the normal group by suboccipital stretch.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.54-58
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• 2012

We present the rare case of solitary xanthogranuloma in the upper cervical column mimicking a Brown-Sequard syndrome. A 29-year-old man complained with right hemiparesis and left hypoesthesia after a car accident. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance images revealed a lobulated homogenously well-enhancing mass in between posterior arch of the atlas (C1) and spinous process of the axis (C2) resulting in a marked spinal canal narrowing with cortical erosions. The patient was managed by complete resection of the tumor with partial laminectomy with lower half of C1 posterior arch and upper half of C2 spinous process. The authors advise complete removal of the xanthogranuloma and consideration as a differential diagnosis of lesions among upper cervical lesions.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.3729-3734
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• 2015

Background: Although cervical cancer is preventable and early screening might decrease the associated mortality, challenges faced by the women and health care providers can postpone early detection. This qualitative study aimed to establish patient and provider perceptions about personal and socio-cultural barriers for cervical cancer screening in Mashhad, Iran. Materials and Methods: In the present study, which was conducted in 2012, eighteen participants, who were selected purposefully, participated in individual in-depth, semi-structured interviews, which were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using conventional content analysis and Atlas-Ti software. Results: One theme and two categories were derived from data including: cognitive/behavioral factors (lack of a community-based approach to cervical cancer, lack of awareness, wrong attitude and lack of health seeking behaviors) and socio/cultural issues (socio-cultural invasion, mismatch between tradition, modernity and religious, extra marital relationships and cultural taboos). Conclusions: Providing community based approach education programs and employing social policy are needed for preventing of cervical cancer in Iran.