Loss of cervical lordosis

3 things to know first

1. It describes alignment. It is not a diagnosis of a specific disease.
2. Position can influence the image. A single scan does not establish why the curve looks straight.
3. Other findings matter more. Symptoms, injury history, and neurological signs guide care.

What it is

The cervical spine normally has a gentle inward curve when viewed from the side. Loss of cervical lordosis means that curve appears flatter than expected on X-ray, CT, or MRI. Some reports instead describe a reversed curve; that is a related but distinct alignment observation.

Why it appears on your report

Radiologists routinely describe spinal alignment. Neck position during imaging, individual variation, pain-related guarding, or structural changes may affect the appearance. The scan alone cannot prove muscle spasm or a particular injury as the cause.

How serious is it

An isolated straightened curve without concerning symptoms may need no specific treatment. It becomes more relevant when paired with trauma, persistent pain, nerve symptoms, or other abnormal findings.

When to seek care urgently

After neck trauma, seek immediate assessment for weakness, numbness, difficulty walking, or severe worsening pain.

What usually happens next

1. Review symptoms and any injury history.
2. Check the rest of the report for discs, bones, and spinal cord findings.
3. Discuss treatment of symptoms rather than the curve alone.

Further reading

• RadiologyInfo — Cervical neck pain imaging
• RadiologyInfo — Spine MRI