Radiographic measurement of prevertebral soft tissue thickness on lateral radiographs of the neck

Abstract 

Purpose. The prevertebral soft tissue measurement is commonly used for assessing prevertebral pathology such as abscesses or hematomas after injury. Very few references concerning the ratio of retrotracheal thickness to C5 diameter are available in the literature. The purpose of this study was to measure the normal soft tissue thickness at the C5 level of the neck and to establish the normal ratio of retrotracheal soft tissue thickness to the diameter of C5 for daily use.

Design and patients. We measured soft tissue thickness in the neck of 54 normal subjects and calculated the mean and standard deviation.

Results and conclusion. Using mean plus one standard deviation the maximum retrocricoid soft tissue thickness was 0.7×C5 diameter and maximum retrotracheal thickness was 1.0×C5 diameter. Soft tissue thickness that exceeds this limit must be studied further for signs of potential disease.