Paramastoid Process: Literature Review of Its Anatomy and Clinical Implications

The paramastoid process is a rare variation found on the occipital bone as an extension of its jugular process. In the literature, this process has been called many names including the paraoccipital, paracondylar, or parajugular process. The paramastoid process can articulate with the lateral aspect of the transverse process of the atlas creating clinical consequences and potentially resulting in diminished range of motion of the head. Herein, we describe the anatomy, embryology, prevalence, imaging, and clinical consequences of the paramastoid process in order to improve our understanding of this rare anatomic variation.