Tumoral calcinosis in the upper cervical spine: a case report.
METHODS
An elderly women with tumoral calcinosis between the C1 posterior arch and the C2 lamina is reported.


OBJECTIVE
To describe a rare occurrence of tumoral calcinosis in the spine and discuss its pathomechanism.


BACKGROUND
Tumoral calcinosis is a rare condition occurring predominantly in the juxtaarticular regions of the extremities. Involvement of the spine has been reported in only one case in the lumbar spine. The calcium phosphate crystals that have been identified are those of hydroxyapatite.


METHODS
The calcified material was removed, and its crystalline phase was analyzed.


RESULTS
Neck pain was relieved by removal of the calcified material. Scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive x-ray microanalysis revealed that the material consisted of crystals of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate.


CONCLUSIONS
Tumoral calcinosis should be included among the clinical presentations of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposition disease.
Kokubun
S
S
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.
Ozawa
H
H
Sakurai
M
M
Tanaka
Y
Y
D000368:Aged; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D002131:Calcium Pyrophosphate; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011859:Radiography; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology
D002131:Calcium Pyrophosphate