CERVICAL OSSEOUS CHANGES ASSOCIATED WITH VERTEBRAL ARTERY TORTUOSITY

Vertebral artery tortuosity causing neural foraminal widening is a wel l described abnormality that should not be confused with other causes of neural foraminal enlargement, particularly on conventional roentgen ograms. We, hereby, describe CT features of another cervical osseous c hange due to the vertebral artery tortuosity, the so called ''tubular shaped vertebral artery canal'', which is embedded in the vertebral bo dy instead of causing neural foramen enlargement. Catheter and MR angi ographic studies have also been performed to confirm the vertebral art ery tortuosity causing the osseous changes.