Acute Retropharyngeal Calcific Tendinitis or Calcium Hydroxyapatite Deposits in Longus Colli Muscle

Abstract

Acute retropharyngeal calcific tendinitis, also called calcium hydroxylapatite deposition disease, is a little known entity that causes pain and neck stiffness associated with odynophagia. Radiographically, it manifested with calcium deposits and an edematization of retropharyngeal soft tissues. Retropharyngeal impacting typically occurs to the long neck muscle tendon insertion or longus colli, although it is rarely described, in the literature. We present a clinical case treated in the Department of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Surgery of Hospital Clinico Universitario of Santiago de Compostela (La Coruna, Spain), discussing the clinical-radiological characteristics and treatment according to the little existing literature on the subject. After the analysis of the data obtained from the review of this case, we can conclude that the most important element for the diagnosis of this entity is the knowledge of its existence and recognition of its characteristics in plain X-ray and CT. It is self-limited and her treatment consists of anti-inflammatory agents, non-steroidal and neck brace immobilization.




J Med Cases. 2017;8(2):63-66
doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jmc1650w