Cervical rib
Costa cervicalis
- Latin synonym: Costa colli
- Synonym: Cervical rib bone
Definition
Cervical ribs (Cervical accessory ribs) are supernumerary ribs that arise from the seventh cervical vertebra. These ribs are congenital anomalies and can vary in size and shape. They are relatively rare, with a prevalence ranging from 0.05% to 3.0% in the general population.
Cervical ribs can be asymptomatic or cause clinical symptoms, particularly when they lead to thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS). TOS occurs due to compression of neurovascular structures, such as the brachial plexus or subclavian vessels, within the thoracic outlet. This compression can result in neurogenic symptoms (e.g., pain, numbness, and weakness) or vascular symptoms (e.g., arterial or venous thrombosis).
The presence of cervical ribs is often detected incidentally on imaging studies, such as cervical spine CT scans, but they are frequently underreported.
References
1.Cervical Rib Prevalence and Its Association With Thoracic Outlet Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis of 141 Studies With Surgical Considerations.Henry BM, Vikse J, Sanna B, et al.World Neurosurgery. 2018;110:e965-e978. doi:10.1016/j.wneu.2017.11.148.
2.Cervical Ribs: A Common Variant Overlooked in CT Imaging.Viertel VG, Intrapiromkul J, Maluf F, et al.AJNR. American Journal of Neuroradiology. 2012;33(11):2191-4. doi:10.3174/ajnr.A3143.
3.The Significance of Cervical Ribs in Thoracic Outlet Syndrome.Chang KZ, Likes K, Davis K, Demos J, Freischlag JA.Journal of Vascular Surgery. 2013;57(3):771-5. doi:10.1016/j.jvs.2012.08.110.
