OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this series was to describe the use of sonography for diagnosis of cervical ribs in children. METHODS: Two children had hard nonmobile supraclavicular masses that were of clinical concern for malignancy. Both children were first evaluated by sonography. RESULTS: Sonography showed each mass to be a tubular bony structure with a cartilaginous end. They were thought to represent cervical ribs. This anatomic variant was subsequently confirmed with radiography in 1 case and computed tomography in the other. CONCLUSIONS: Musculoskeletal sonography may offer a reliable method for diagnosing cervical ribs without the need for ionizing radiation.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this series was to describe the use of sonography for diagnosis of cervical ribs in children. METHODS: Two children had hard nonmobile supraclavicular masses that were of clinical concern for malignancy. Both children were first evaluated by sonography. RESULTS: Sonography showed each mass to be a tubular bony structure with a cartilaginous end. They were thought to represent cervical ribs. This anatomic variant was subsequently confirmed with radiography in 1 case and computed tomography in the other. CONCLUSIONS: Musculoskeletal sonography may offer a reliable method for diagnosing cervical ribs without the need for ionizing radiation.