Congenital Absence of a Vertebral Pedicle in the Cervical Spine

Abstract

Congenital absence of a vertebral pedicle in the cervical spine, a rare disorder, was observed in a 41-year-old woman. The disorder may be confused with a "dumbbell" tumor and erosion by a tortuous vertebral artery. The diagnosis is established by characteristic radiologic changes, especially in oblique roentgenograms, myelograms, and CT scans. Nerve root decompression was performed by hemilaminectomy at the level of the fifth cervical vertebra. There was little relief of pain, the chief preoperative complaint. Surgery may not be indicated for patients with congenital absence of a vertebral pedicle.