Parrot Beak

Parrot beak is a term used in medicine to describe a specific shadow visible on X-rays of the spine of patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the spine, which leads to the gradual fusion of the vertebrae and limited mobility of the spine. One of the classic signs of this disease on x-rays is the so-called “parrot beak”.

This shadow has the shape of a semi-oval hook and is observed on the side of the vertebral body at the level of the intervertebral disc. It is formed due to the growth of bone tissue along the edges of the vertebrae (syndesmophytes) and resembles a parrot's beak - hence the name.

The presence of a "parrot's beak" on a spinal x-ray is one of the key diagnostic criteria for ankylosing spondylitis, along with other signs such as sacroiliitis and inflammatory changes in the sacroiliac joint. Therefore, this radiological phenomenon is of great importance for the early diagnosis of this serious rheumatic disease.

Parrot's beak is the medical name for a shadowy growth that can be seen on x-rays in the vertebral area of ​​some patients with ankylosing spondylitis. It is called the "beak" because of its shape and location next to the vertebral body.

Parrot beak is a sign of Bechter's disease, and it can occur with various spinal diseases. This shadow formation occurs as a result of thickening of bone tissue, which occurs in people with inflammatory diseases of the spine. Bone thickening is caused by inflammation or spasm of the spinal muscles, which causes the spine to lengthen and create an additional vertebra between existing vertebrae.