Cervical Corpectomy Cage: Appearance on X-ray and MRI with Reporting Tips
Surgical Implants and Medical Devices — Imaging Identification and Reporting
🔍 How should this implant be named?
Metallic mesh corpectomy cageAlternative description: Vertebral body replacement cage
What is its purpose?
Corpectomy involves partial or complete removal of a vertebral body. A corpectomy cage is placed into the defect created by removal of the vertebral body and associated discs. It supports the anterior spinal column, helps maintain the height of the reconstructed segment, and provides structural support for fusion in conjunction with bone graft.
Why is a corpectomy performed?
Corpectomy may be performed to access and remove structures causing anterior spinal cord compression or to resect a diseased vertebral body. In selected patients, principal indications include degenerative compression extending behind the vertebral body that cannot be adequately relieved by discectomy alone, burst fractures with retropulsed bone fragments, vertebral tumors, and advanced infection with vertebral body destruction. Not every vertebral compression fracture requires corpectomy. The indication for corpectomy in this patient is unknown.
Imaging findings in this case
Cervical radiographs:
An elongated metallic cage with repeated openings in its walls is visible in the lower cervical spine. Its appearance is consistent with a metallic mesh corpectomy cage. The inferior portion of the implant is obscured by the shoulders on the lateral radiograph.
Sagittal MRI:
Marked metal-related signal loss and geometric distortion are present at the implant site. These artifacts limit assessment of the implant margins and adjacent osseous structures. The images suggest reconstruction extending from C4 to C7 following C5–C6 corpectomies; the exact levels require confirmation using the complete examination or operative records.
Additional observation:
Mineralization of the laryngeal and tracheal cartilages is visible on the radiographs. No obvious narrowing or marked deviation of the visible airway column is identified. These observations should be assessed separately from the implant description.
Imaging identification clues
An elongated metallic cage occupying the vertebral body defect.
Perforated or mesh-like cage walls.
A longer reconstruction span than a cage confined to an intervertebral disc space.
Key distinction:An interbody cage is placed within an intervertebral disc space.A corpectomy cage fills the defect created by removal of a vertebral body.
📝 Example report wording
For radiographs:
“A metallic mesh corpectomy cage is noted in the lower cervical spine.”
For MRI:
“Postoperative changes of corpectomy and cage placement are present in the lower cervical spine. Metal-related artifacts at the implant level limit assessment of adjacent structures.”
If the levels are confirmed:
“A metallic corpectomy cage extends from C4 to C7 following C5–C6 corpectomies.”
Reporting checklist
Checkpoint | Features to assess |
Level and extent | Vertebral bodies removed and the reconstructed segment |
Implant position | Relationship to adjacent vertebrae; anterior, posterior, or lateral displacement |
Endplate relationship | Cage subsidence into adjacent vertebral endplates |
Implant integrity | Fracture or deformation |
Spinal alignment | Angulation or malalignment at the operated segment |
Additional implants | Separate identification of any plates, screws, or rods |
Spinal canal and cord | Compression and cord signal abnormalities where assessable on MRI |
Previous examinations | Interval changes in position, subsidence, and alignment |
Limitations of the supplied images
The radiographs and two sagittal MR images help identify the general implant type. They do not permit definitive assessment of overall implant positioning, integrity, subsidence, or fusion status. The manufacturer and model cannot be confirmed from these images.
Take-home point:
Within a disc space → interbody cage.
Replacing a vertebral body → corpectomy cage.
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