title: Retropharyngeal calcific tendonitis.
abstract: Calcific tendonitis of the longus colli muscle is an uncommon cause of sudden onset of neck pain. Differential diagnosis should include retropharyngeal abscess, traumatic injury or even meningitis. Diagnosis can be made radiographically with plain radiograph which reveals an amorphous calcification anteriorly to C1-C2 and severe swelling of the prevertebral soft tissue. Treatment of choice is conservative and consists of administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Clinically the complaints disappear after 1-2 weeks. Follow-up radiographs are, in fact, unnecessary but demonstrate complete resolution of the calcific density and normalization of the prevertebral swelling.
authors.affiliation: Departments of aRadiology bInternal medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Filip
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Van Kerkhove
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Geusens
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Knockaert
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D011859:Radiography; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy