title: [Retropharyngeal tendinitis. Differential diagnosis in the management of acute neck pain].
abstract: Neck pain is frequent and can be a symptom of numerous differential diagnoses with quite different diagnostic and therapeutic consequences. A 37-year-old woman reported acute neck pain aggravated by movements of the cervical spine and head and by swallowing. Clinical examination showed pronounced neck stiffness. T2-weighted MRI demonstrated high-intensity edema and effusion localized prevertebrally in the area of the superior part of the longus colli muscle. Computed tomography of this region demonstrated prevertebral calcification leading to the diagnosis of retropharyngeal tendinitis. Nonsteroidal antiphlogistic drugs led to rapid improvement of clinical signs and symptoms. Retropharyngeal tendinitis should be considered in patients with acute neck pain.
authors.affiliation: Neurologische Klinik, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Schwabachanlage 6, 91054 Erlangen. Josef.heckmann@neuro.imed.uni-erlangen.de
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Heckmann
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tröscher-Weber
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pawlowski
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Seifert
authors.forename: C J G
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dörfler
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schwab
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D052256:Tendinopathy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal