Spontaneous resolution of cervical calcified ligamentum flavum in a 72-year-old woman with cervical myelopathy
Abstract
Ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF) and calcification of the ligamentum flavum (CLF) are rare disease entities in the cervical spine which may result in neurologic symptoms. A 72-year-old female patient presented with 2 months of improving left upper extremity radicular symptoms and 1 year of right hand numbness, with subtle clinical signs and symptoms of cervical myelopathy. Imaging at the time of onset of left upper extremity radicular pain demonstrated calcifications of the ligamentum flavum (CLF) resulting in cervical spinal cord compression at C3-4. A cervical spine CT obtained nearly 3 months after initial CT demonstrated complete resolution of the ligamentum flavum calcifications.Patients with CLF who demonstrate symptomatic improvement should be considered for repeat imaging to identify any radiographic evidence of resolution.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Cervical and Thoracic Myelopathy
Spine and Intervertebral Disc Pathology
Scoliosis diagnosis and treatment
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Radiology Case Reports
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Volume
- 21
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 1418–1421
- Publication date
- 12 January 2026
- Language
- EN