title: Cervical intervertebral disc calcification with extreme lateral herniation in a child: T2-weighted signal intensity of the involved disc can be restored to normal.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this case report is to present a very atypical case of cervical intervertebral disc calcification (IDC) with extreme lateral herniated calcification in a child. This is the first ever reported case in which T2-weighted signal intensity of the involved disc was restored to normal after a 2-year follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 10-year-old girl presented with neck pain and right upper limb numbness for 2 months. The initial computed tomography (CT) images on admission showed calcified nucleus pulposus with extreme lateral herniated calcification at the C6-C7 level. Meanwhile, T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed decreased signal intensity of the involved disc. The patient was treated conservatively with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and jaw-occipital belt traction for 2 weeks. The cervical CT and MRI scans were repeated at 2-year follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Her clinical symptoms were completely resolved after 2 weeks. At 2-year follow-up, CT and MRI images demonstrated that calcification was completely absorbed and T2-weighted signal intensity of the C6-C7 disc was restored back to normal.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cervical IDC combined with extreme lateral herniated calcification is extremely rare in children. The recovery of signal intensity of intervertebral disc on MRI may provide further support to the feasibility of conservative treatment of IDC.
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, 829 XinMin St, Changchun, 130021, China.
authors: Wanguo
authors: W
authors: Liu
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, 829 XinMin St, Changchun, 130021, China.
authors: Chenglin
authors: C
authors: Tang
authors: Department of Spinal Surgery, The First Hospital, Jilin University, 71 XinMin St, Changchun, 130021, China.
authors: Lidi
authors: L
authors: Liu
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, 829 XinMin St, Changchun, 130021, China. hotspine@163.com.
authors: Qing San
authors: QS
authors: Zhu
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Second Bethune Hospital, Jilin University, 218 ZiQiang St, Changchun, 130021, China. qsslin2@163.com.
authors: Lan Feng
authors: LF
authors: Huang
mesh_terms: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D055959:Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D015898:Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
keywords: Cervical spine; Children; Conservative treatment; Intervertebral disc calcification; Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)