Variability of Morphology and Signal Intensity of Alar Ligaments in Healthy Volunteers Using MR Imaging

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:

Evaluation of alar traumatic injuries by using MR imaging is frequently performed. This study investigates the variability of morphology and signal intensity of alar ligaments in healthy volunteers so that pathology can be more accurately defined.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Fifty healthy volunteers were examined on a 1.5T MR imaging scanner with 2-mm PD−weighted sequences in 3 planes. Delineation of the alar ligaments in 3 planes and signal-intensity characteristics on sagittal planes were analyzed by using a 4-point grading scale. Variability of courses and morphologic characteristics were described.

RESULTS:

Delineation of alar ligaments was best viewed in the coronal plane, followed by the sagittal and axial planes. In the sagittal view, 6.5% of alar ligaments appeared homogeneously dark. Hyperintense signal intensity in up to one-third of the cross-sectional area was present in 33% of cases; in up to two-thirds of the cross-sectional area, in 45% of cases; and in more than two-thirds of the cross-sectional area, in 15% of cases. Of alar ligaments, 58.5% ascended laterally, 40.5% ran horizontally, and 1% descended laterally. The cross-sectional area was round in 41.5%, oval in 51.5%, and winglike in 6.5%.

CONCLUSIONS:

On 1.5T MR imaging, the alar ligaments can be delineated best in the coronal and sagittal planes. Our data indicate a remarkable variability of morphology and course as well as signal intensity. This finding is contradictory to former publications assigning such alterations exclusively to patients with trauma.

The upper cervical ligaments are of crucial importance for movement and stability in the craniocervical spine. The alar ligaments connect the dens axis to the occipital condyles and have an important role in rotation as well as in anterior, posterior, and lateral flexion in the upper cervical spine.^1–3 It is evident that lesions of the alar ligaments occur in the context of severe neck trauma.^4–6 Nevertheless, the involvement of the alar ligaments in WAD has not been conclusively established in prior imaging and postmortem studies.⁷ Imaging studies showed that the upper cervical ligaments can be evaluated by using MR imaging,^8–10 especially proton-weighted sequences. MR imaging studies analyzing alar ligaments have included not only noninjured individuals^9–15 but also selected patients with WAD.^8,11

“WAD” is defined as an injury caused by hyperextension and subsequent hyperflexion of the cervical spine associated with sudden acceleration and/or deceleration of the head, most often caused by a car crash.¹⁶ Whiplash injury of the cervical spine is a frequent issue requiring medical expertise. The consequential costs for automobile insurance companies amounted to approximately 500 million euro in Germany and 4.5 billion dollars in the United States in the late 1990s.^17,18 Some authors claim that posttraumatic changes can be detected as high signal intensity of the alar ligaments on MR imaging and claim that these findings correlate with clinical symptoms. However, until now, results are inconsistent as to whether high signal intensity within the alar ligaments was more frequent in patients with WAD than in noninjured controls (for¹⁵; against^9,11,13).

In this investigation, we systematically assessed the varying MR imaging appearances of the alar ligaments in a large sample size of healthy volunteers. The objective was to define pathologies of the alar ligaments more accurately to minimize misinterpretation of their structural and signal-intensity variability as posttraumatic alterations in patients with WAD.

Materials and Methods

Subjects

The study was approved by the regional ethics committee. Fifty healthy volunteers (23 men, 27 women) who had provided their written informed consent were included. The average age of patients included in the study was 24.1 years (range, 20–31 years). A standard questionnaire was filled out by each volunteer before the examination. None of the volunteers had ever been involved in any car crash or sustained any head or neck trauma, as stated in their case histories. Volunteers with chronic neck pain with or without restricted mobility of the cervical spine were excluded. Furthermore, volunteers with malignant disease or disease with potential involvement of the cervical spine and craniocervical junction (eg, chronic polyarthritis, rheumatic arthritis, or juvenile arthritis) were excluded from the study.

MR Imaging Protocol

MR imaging was performed on a 1.5T scanner (Magnetom Vision or Symphony; Siemens, Erlangen, Germany). A standard head coil was used, and all images were obtained with the subject's head and neck in a neutral position. Proton-weighted and T2-weighted fast spin-echo images by using a double echo were obtained in 3 orthogonal planes. The imaging parameters were the following: TR, 3200 ms; TE, 14 ms (PD)/111 ms (T2); matrix, 192 × 192 mm; FOV, 120 × 120 mm; 2-mm section thickness; 19 sections.

Image Evaluation

Image interpretation was performed on a standard PACS workstation. All MR imaging examinations were independently evaluated by 2 neuroradiologists (with 9 and 3 years' experience with special training in head and neck imaging). One of these neuroradiologists re-evaluated 20 randomly chosen cases (40 ligaments) in a second reading 4 weeks apart from the first one.

Only PD−weighted sequences were evaluated. Alar ligaments were characterized by the assessment of their delineation, orientation, shape, and signal intensity. Alar ligament delineation was evaluated in all 3 planes and classified into 4 groups: no (0), poor (1), moderate (2), and good (3) delineation. Orientation was specified in the coronal and axial planes. In the coronal view, ligaments were grouped into 3 categories: straight horizontal, laterally ascending, or descending orientation (Fig 1). Likewise, in the axial view, ligaments were divided into 3 groups: straight lateral, anterolateral, or posterolateral orientation (Fig 2). The shape was evaluated on sagittal images in the midportion of the ligament. According to prior studies, ligaments were grouped into 3 main variants: round, ovoid, and winglike (Fig 3).¹⁴ Furthermore, the signal intensity of alar ligaments was evaluated in the sagittal plane according to a 4-point grading scale proposed by Krakenes et al.¹⁵ Using this grading system on PD−weighted images, we graded low signal intensity throughout the entire cross-sectional area of the alar ligament as 0, high signal intensity in less than one- third of the cross-section as 1, high signal intensity in one-third to two-thirds of the cross-section as 2, and high signal intensity in more than two-thirds of the cross-section as 3 (Fig 4).

Fig 1.

Proton attenuation−weighted MR images of alar ligaments (arrows) in the coronal plane demonstrate the variations in the course of the ligaments. Laterally ascending (A), lateral (B), and laterally descending (C) orientations of the alar ligament are shown.

Fig 2.

PD−weighted MR images of alar ligaments (black arrows) demonstrate their different orientations in the axial plane. Straight lateral (A) and posterolateral (B) orientations of the alar ligament are shown.

Fig 3.

PD−weighted MR images of 3 alar ligaments (arrows) in the sagittal plane demonstrate the 3 different shapes in cross-section. A, Round ligament. B, Ovoid ligament. C, Winglike ligament.

Fig 4.

Three examples of grades of delineation and signal intensity of alar ligaments. A and B, PD−weighted MR images of 3 alar ligaments in the sagittal (A) and coronal (B) planes. The dashed lines in B1–3 indicate the orientation of the respective sagittal sections in A1–3. In A1, the alar ligament shows a good delineation (grade 3) and low signal intensity (grade 0). A2 is classified as grade 2 for signal intensity (high signal intensity in one-third to two-thirds of the cross-section) and delineation (moderate). In A3, the alar ligament is hardly definable (grade 1), with high signal intensity throughout the cross-section (grade 3).

Statistics

Cohen κ coefficients¹⁹ were used to evaluate interobserver agreements concerning orientation of alar ligaments in the coronal and axial views. Furthermore ordinary κ coefficients were used to evaluate pair-wise interobserver agreement and intraobserver agreement concerning signal intensity. To replicate the analysis performed in prior studies, we dichotomized the 4-point scale for signal intensity into low signal intensity (grades 0 and 1) and high signal intensity (grades 2 and 3).^11,15,20

Statistical analyses were performed by using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, Version 16.0 (SPSS, Chicago, Illinois).

Results

Delineation of alar ligaments was best viewed in the coronal plane, with a moderate or good delineation in 67.5% of all images from the 50 volunteers (ie, 100 ligaments evaluated by 2 readers independently equaled 200 alar ligaments). Delineation was second-best in the sagittal plane with good-to-moderate delineation in 52%. In the axial plane, the ligaments were of good or moderate delineation in 50.5%. Details are given in Table 1.

Table 1:

Descriptive findings of the alar ligaments

	Readers 1 + 2	κ Value (SE)
Delineation of AL in coronal plane
Good (grade 3)	17%
Moderate (grade 2)	50.5%
Poor (grade 1)	32%
Not definable (grade 0)	0.5%
Delineation of AL in sagittal plane
Good (grade 3)	12%
Moderate (grade 2)	40%
Poor (grade 1)	47.5%
Not definable (grade 0)	0.5%
Delineation of AL in axial plane
Good (grade 3)	9.5%
Moderate (grade 2)	41%
Poor (grade 1)	46%
Not definable (grade 0)	3.5%
Orientation of AL in coronal plane		0.85
Laterally ascending	58.5%	(±0.051)
Horizontally oriented	40.5%
Laterally descending	1%
Orientation of AL in axial plane		0.90
Posterolateral	32.5%	(±0.047)
Straight lateral	67.5%
Anterolateral	0%
Shape of AL in sagittal plane
Round	41.5%
Ovoid	51.5%
Winglike	6.5%
Not definable	0.5%

On coronal images, ligaments were horizontally oriented in 40.5% and laterally ascending from the dens up to the condyles in 58.5% (Fig 1). Both readers found a laterally descending orientation in 1%. In the axial view, a posterolateral orientation was found in 32.5%, a straight lateral orientation was found in 67.5%, and an anterolateral orientation was not found (Fig 2). Interobserver agreement for the orientation of alar ligaments in both coronal and axial views was very good (κ=0.85± 0.051 SE for the coronal view; κ=0.90 ± 0.047 SE for the axial view).

In cross-section, alar ligaments were grouped as round in 41.5%, as ovoid in 51.5%, and as winglike in 6.5% (Fig 3). One ligament was not definable in the sagittal view by 1 reader.

In the sagittal view, 6.5% of alar ligaments appeared homogeneously dark. A hyperintense signal intensity in up to one- third of the cross-sectional area was present in 33% of cases; up to two-thirds of the cross-sectional area was hyperintense in 45% of the ligaments. Fifteen percent of the ligaments showed a hyperintense signal intensity in more than two-thirds of the cross-sectional area (Table 2 and Fig 4).

Table 2:

Signal characteristics of alar ligaments in the sagittal plane

	Reader 1 + 2	κ Value (SE)
Low signal throughout entire cross-section,	6.5%		0.33 (±0.090)
grade 0		39.5%
High signal in ≤1/3 of cross-section,	33%
grade 1
High signal in 1/3 to 2/3 of cross-section,	45%
grade 2		60%
High signal in ≥2/3 of cross-section,	15%
grade 3
Not definable	0.5%

As described in the “Materials and Methods” section, the groups were dichotomized into 2 categories to calculate inter- and intraobserver agreement concerning signal intensity: 39.5% as grade 0–1, which belonged to group 1; and 60% as grade 2–3, which constituted group 2. Subsequently, the κ value for the interobserver agreement was 0.33 (SE of κ ± 0.090), indicating fair agreement.

The intraobserver agreement concerning signal intensity with respect to dichotomized groups was κ = 0.37 (SE of κ ± 0.136), likewise indicating fair agreement.

Discussion

This study assessed the morphologic and signal-intensity variability of alar ligaments in an asymptomatic population by using MR imaging. Alar ligaments connect the lateral aspect of the dens and the medial inferior aspect of the occipital condyles.²¹ Because PD−weighted images with 2-mm section thickness without a gap emerged as the best protocol to image alar ligaments reliably,¹⁴ we applied this protocol in our study. Using PD−weighted sequences, Krakenes et al¹⁴ characterized morphologic aspects of alar ligaments in vivo.

In terms of orientation of the ligaments, our results agree with prior studies in vitro^2,22 and in vivo.^9,14 Almost 60% of alar ligaments in our population showed a laterally ascending orientation, and approximately 40% were orientated horizontally. Descending orientation was rare. Likewise, in the axial plane, we found a lateral orientation in approximately one- third of cases and a posterolateral orientation in another third of cases. Anterolateral orientation was very rare. Furthermore, our results showed a high variability concerning the shape of the alar ligaments, also in accordance with the investigations mentioned before. In the cross-section, approximately one- half appeared ovoid, slightly less than one-half appeared round, and the few remaining ligaments showed a winglike configuration.

In summary, considerable intra- and interindividual variations in orientation and shape of alar ligaments are a consistent finding.^2,22 Hence, in the evaluation of alar ligaments (eg, in patients with WAD), an asymmetric or atypical appearance should not be misinterpreted as a pathologic finding.

In the literature, the significance of signal-intensity hyperintensities of alar ligaments as a sequela of WAD is inconsistent. Krakenes et al¹⁵ introduced a 4-point grading scale based on the signal intensity of alar ligaments in the sagittal plane. Low-signal intensity was defined as normal (grade 0). The authors reported high-signal-intensity changes (grade 2 or 3) only among patients with whiplash. Increased signal intensity (grades 1–3) was regarded as a sign of injury. On the other hand, Myran et al¹¹ used the same MR imaging protocol, MR imaging equipment, and alar ligament grading scale as Krakenes et al¹⁴ but did not support the conclusion of Krakenes et al. Myran et al examined 3 different groups (1 group with persistent WAD grades I-II after a car crash, 1 group with chronic nontraumatic neck pain, and 1 group without neck pain or previous neck trauma) and found areas of high signal intensity (grades 2 and 3) in all 3 groups without significant differences between the groups. In our study, we also used a comparable MR imaging protocol and found signal-intensity alterations (grades 2 and 3) in 60% of alar ligaments in a group of healthy young volunteers without any history of WAD.

There are also previous reports of high-signal-intensity changes among asymptomatic individuals,^9,13 but in these studies, different MR imaging protocols and different grading scales were used. Possible anatomic variances in the connective fiber attenuation may influence the imaging appearance of alar ligaments. Age-dependent degeneration and fatty tissue, interspersed among fibers, are also known to cause high-signal-intensity MR imaging changes in tendons and ligaments of other localizations.^23–26 A similar effect could be conceivable for alar ligaments, even though a recent study could not demonstrate an association between the frequency of alar ligament hyperintensities and patients' ages.²⁷ In 2008, Koch²⁸ examined specimens of the upper cervical spine after fatal head trauma pathoanatomically and histologically and by using MR imaging. Koch found significant inter- and intraindividual differences of interspersed fatty tissue in the alar ligaments and a respective correlation to the MR signal intensity of the ligaments.

Although taking into account the anatomic conditions of the structures that we analyzed (10- to 13-mm length, 3 × 6 mm diameter), there are important methodologic aspects to consider when interpreting and comparing results from different investigations. In some studies, relatively thick sections of 3–5 mm have been used.^9,12,13,29 Thick sections increase the partial volume effect from high-signal-intensity tissues like bone marrow and fatty tissues and thus probably contribute to high-signal-intensity areas seen in the ligaments. In the present study, thin sections (2 mm) in 3 different imaging planes were used to avoid partial volume effects from the surrounding tissues. However, even with thin sections and high in-plane resolution, the interpretation of signal-intensity changes is difficult.

Another aspect is the influence of the magnetic field strength on the image quality and the consequential ability to detect small structural changes in the ligaments. In some studies, a low-field magnetic strength (0.2–0.5T) was used,^{9,10,12,13,29} whereas other investigators used a high-field magnetic strength (1.5T).^15,30 In the present study, we used a magnetic field strength of 1.5T. Another variable that probably influences the wide range of imaging results is the choice of MR imaging parameters. In some studies, both T1 and T2 images have been obtained.^{9,13,15,29,30} An early study of Krakenes et al¹⁴ investigated various MR imaging parameters and concluded that detailed structural information of ligaments and membranes in the craniocervical region was best obtained with high-resolution proton attenuation−weighted images in 3 planes. This type of imaging sequence was also applied in the present study.

Another difficulty when interpreting signal intensity of alar ligaments on MR imaging is the grading of signal-intensity hyperintensities. Krakenes et al¹⁵ introduced a 4-point grading scale based on the signal intensity of the alar ligaments in the sagittal plane. The same 4-point grading technique was used in subsequent studies^9,14,27 as well as in this study. Nevertheless, the low inter-rater agreement rates concerning signal intensity in the present and in previous studies¹¹ indicate that using this 4-point grading scale may have disadvantages in clinical practice. Even after dichotomization, the inter- and intrarater κ values of the groups did not have an acceptable agreement for this rating scale to be clinically useful. An erroneous evaluation of 1 or both readers as another possible explanation for the low inter-rater agreement seems unlikely considering the very good interobserver agreement concerning the orientation of the alar ligaments.

To which degree alar ligaments are really affected in WAD is not even completely clear yet.⁷ One of the few postmortem studies showed that injury of the alar ligaments is possible in the context of heavy trauma.⁴ In 11 of 30 specimens with various extent of head trauma (from subgaleal hemorrhage to comminuted skull fracture), rupture or underbleeding of alar ligaments was found, but there was no correlation between the degree of trauma and the extent of injury of the ligaments. In 2008, a second postmortem investigation was published.²⁸ As mentioned above, Koch²⁸ examined human specimens after fatal head trauma by using MR imaging and subsequent macroscopic and microscopic correlation. Even though 13 of 14 specimens showed severe injury of the upper cervical spine, involvement of the alar ligament, meaning elongation or partial or complete rupture, was not found in any of the specimens.

Furthermore, other biomechanical experiments with special focus on injuries of the upper cervical spine and craniocervical junction could not verify injuries of the alar ligaments.^31–33 Nevertheless, these experiments can only be an approach to reality because the influence of muscular tonicity, for example, cannot be simulated. Results of animal studies in which transient pressure pulses in the cervical spinal canal during experimental neck trauma were recorded indicate that WAD could also appear due to other factors, such as involvement of the cervical spinal nerve root region.³⁴ It was hypothesized that the changes in the inner volume of the cervical spinal canal during neck extension-flexion motion would cause transient pressure changes in the central nervous system as a result of hydrodynamic effects and thereby mechanically load the nerve roots and cause tissue damage. However, this hypothesis and the transferability to WAD in humans need further evaluation.

There are some limitations to the present study. First, the average age of the population in this investigation was fairly young with a limited age range. To evaluate a correlation between hyperintense signal intensity of the alar ligaments and interspersed fatty tissue due to degeneration, a study should correlate signal intensity with age. In addition, histopathologic correlations would be helpful, but specimens of patients with low-grade WAD are certainly rare. Second, we did not include a control group with WAD in this investigation. Hence a potential difference concerning morphology or signal intensity of the alar ligaments could not be evaluated. Furthermore longitudinal studies including an MR imaging investigation before and after WAD would give revealing information on this contradictory topic.

Conclusions

Our study and previous reports show that alar ligaments can be clearly detected by using high-field MR imaging. In patients with acute trauma, MR imaging can rule out structural pathologies of the alar ligaments, which are indeed rarely found. Nevertheless, the benefit of imaging alar ligaments for the diagnosis of chronic low-grade WAD is contestable in consideration of the ligaments' remarkable variability of morphology, course, and signal intensity. Given our current results and the data, we advise against interpreting areas of high intensity in alar ligaments on MR imaging as a morphologic correlate to WAD. Our results do not support any diagnostic value or clinical relevance of these signal-intensity hyperintensities.

Abbreviations

AL

alar ligaments

PD

proton-density

SE

standard error

WAD

whiplash-associated disorder