57 y/o woman of Japanese decent with pain in the right arm and numbness in the left hand.

The lateral plain film shows ossification along the posterior C5 and C6 vertebral bodies. The MRI and CT scan images show thickening and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament from C4 through C7.

Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament

Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) is a relatively common cause of spinal stenosis in Japanese patients most frequently involving the cervical spine. Males or more frequently involved than females and the 5th decade of life is a common time for symptoms to develop. As can be seen in this case MRI and CT are very sensitive and specific studies for this disease with findings being subtle on plain films.