J Rheum Dis.  2013 Dec;20(6):385-388. 10.4078/jrd.2013.20.6.385.

A Case of Retropharyngeal Calcific Tendinitis in a Patient with Ankylosing Spondylitis

• Yoon HJ
• Son C
• Lee S
• Joo K
• Kim TH

• KMID: 2223000
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4078/jrd.2013.20.6.385

Abstract

Retropharyngeal calcific tendinitis, also known as calcific tendinitis of the longus colli muscle, was first described by Hartley in 1964. It is caused by deposition of calcium hydroxyapatite crystals in the longus colli muscles from C1 to C3. Retropharyngeal calcific tendinitis is diagnosed radiologically by the detection of amorphous calcification and pre-vertebral soft tissue swelling. Twelve cases of retropharnygeal calcific tendinitis have been reported in the Korean literature, but no cases with ankylosing spondylitis. In this case, we report an unusual case of retropharyngeal calcific tendinitis with ankylosing spondylitis.

Keyword

Neck pain; Ankylosing spondylitis

MeSH Terms

Durapatite
Humans
Muscles
Neck Pain
Spondylitis, Ankylosing*
Tendinopathy*
Durapatite

Figure

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  Figure 1. Plain radiograph reveals prevertebral calcification (arrow).

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  Figure 2. (A) Sagittal non-enhan-ced CT of the neck and (B) axial images show amorphous calcific lesion (arrow) anterior to C1∼2.

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  Figure 3. (A) MRI T2 sagittal image shows prominent swelling (arrow) of left side longus colli muscle insertion near the anterior arch of atlas with possible calcific tendinitis involving the longus colli muscles. (B) MRI T2 axial image shows low signal intensity (arrow) in the anterolateral space of the vertebra.

Reference

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