title: Foramen magnum syndrome from pseudogout of the atlanto-occipital ligament. Case report.
abstract: The authors report a case of progressive foramen magnum syndrome due to deposits of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystals, which caused reactive hypertrophy in the posterior longitudinal ligament at C-1 and in the transverse ligament of the atlas in an 84-year-old woman. This is the first reported case of symptomatic pseudogout in this anatomic location. Rapid neurological recovery followed transoral decompression of the cervicomedullary junction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco.
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Ciricillo
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Weinstein
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001269:Atlanto-Occipital Joint; D002805:Chondrocalcinosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005539:Foramen Magnum; D006801:Humans; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D008023:Ligaments, Articular; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009809:Odontoid Process / Q000473:pathology; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D013577:Syndrome