title: Tophaceous pseudogout of the thoracic spine.
abstract: Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition disease (CPDD, tophaceous pseudogout) is a rare crystal arthropathy characterized by pyrophosphate crystal deposition in joints, synovitis and chondrocalcinosis on imaging. We present the case of a 72-year-old man with 6 months of left chest pain; magnetic resonance imaging revealed a T9/T10 herniated disc. Intraoperatively, the material was sent for pathological analysis revealing pseudogout. Axial calcium pyrophosphate crystal deposition is rare but reported in the literature and found at the craniocervical junction and skull. Spinal calcium pyrophosphate crystal deposition is rare in the thoracic spine. It is often asymptompatic and can involve the disc or ligaments. This case demonstrates a unique presentation of CPDD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, NY 14623, USA. vasisht_srinivasan@urmc.rochester.edu
authors.forename: Vasisht
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Srinivasan
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kesler
authors.forename: Mahlon
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Howard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dorfman
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Walter
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002131:Calcium Pyrophosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D002805:Chondrocalcinosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D002131:Calcium Pyrophosphate