["Crowned" odontoid process and osteoarthrosis of the anterior atlantoaxial joint (author's transl)].

The so-called "peridentale aureole" ("crowned odontoid"), a horseshoe-like calcification around the odontoid process, can occasionally be shown on transbuccal views of the occipito-atlantoaxial region, but is commonly only seen on a.p. tomography in patients with osteoarthrosis of the anterior atlantoaxial joint. Tomographic examinations reveal that these irregular horseshoe-like calcifications around the odontoid peg represent mainly the osteophyte formation on the superior border of the anterior arch of the atlas. These calcifications are often surrounding a smaller calcification on the tip of the odontoid process. The peridentale aureole or crowned odontoid process is easily overlooked unless tomography is performed, and misinterpretations are possible if the radiologist is not familiar with this appearance of osteoarthrosis and some other joint diseases of the anterior atlantoaxial joint.