Motion Induced Artifact Mimicking Cervical Dens Fracture on the CT Scan: A Case Report

Asian Spine J. 2012 Sep;6(3):216-8. doi: 10.4184/asj.2012.6.3.216. Epub 2012 Aug 21.

Abstract

The diagnostic performance of helical computed tomography (CT) is excellent. However, some artifacts have been reported, such as motion, beam hardening and scatter artifacts. We herein report a case of motion-induced artifact mimicking cervical dens fracture. A 60-year-old man was involved in a motorcycle accident that resulted in cervical spinal cord injury and quadri plegia. Reconstructed CT images of the cervical spine showed a dens fracture. We assessed axial CT in detail, and motion artifact was detected.

Keywords: Cervical fracture; Mimicking; Motion artifact; Reconstruction.