Table 2:

Etiology of the false-positive flagged studies

False-Positive Etiology	Count	Percentage of All Flagged Studies (n = 173)
Degeneration	55	31.8
Degenerative ossicle	18	10.4
Facet degeneration	14	8.1
Calcified ligament	6	3.5
Cortical irregularity	7	4.0
Osteopenia	4	2.3
Cystic degeneration	4	2.3
Atlantodental joint	1	0.6
Osteophyte	1	0.6
Noncervical pathology	15	8.7
Rib fracture	8	4.6
Degeneration, thoracic	4	2.3
Skull fracture	2	1.2
Carotid calcification	1	0.6
Anatomic variant	10	5.8
Nonunion vertebrae	4	2.3
Transitional anatomy	2	1.2
Limbus	2	1.2
Bifid spinous process	1	0.6
Secondary transverse foramen	1	0.6
Nutrient foramen	9	5.2
Artifact	7	4.0
Unknown	8	4.6
Other	2	1.7
DISH	1	0.6
Occipital suture	1	0.6
Total	106	61.3

Note:—DISH indicates diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis.