J Korean Orthop Assoc.  2010 Dec;45(6):486-489. 10.4055/jkoa.2010.45.6.486.

Acute Calcific Tendinitis of the Longus Colli Muscle in the Cervical Spine

• Song KJ
• Lee KB

• KMID: 2185497
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4055/jkoa.2010.45.6.486

Abstract

Acute calcific tendinitis of the longus colli muscle in the cervical spine is an uncommon benign condition caused by calcium hydroxyapatite deposition in its tendon and a subsequent inflammation. Clinical diagnosis is difficult because its incidence is rare and it can be misdiagnosed as retropharyngeal abscess, traumatic cervical spine injury, or infectious spondylitis. Therefore, a definitive diagnosis requires evaluation of the plain radiogram and a combination of CT and MR imaging. In this report we describe a case with calcific tendinitis of the longus colli muscle with satisfactory results after conservative treatment.

Keyword

calcific tendinitis; longus colli muscle; calcium hydroxyapatite

MeSH Terms

Durapatite
Incidence
Inflammation
Muscles
Retropharyngeal Abscess
Spine
Spondylitis
Tendinopathy
Tendons
Durapatite

Figure

• 

  Figure 1 C-spine lateral radiograph (A) shows no abnormality, but sagittal (B) and axial (C) CT images show a calcification (white arrow) on the anteriolateral area of C2 odontoid process. Sagittal T2 MRI image (D) shows the high signal intensity (white arrow) on the anterior space of cervical vertebrae from C2 to C4 body, and axial T2 (E) and T1 (F) image show the low signal intensity on the anterolateral space of C2 vertebra (white arrows).

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