Presentation
Acute neck pain for 3 days.
Patient Data
Non-enhanced CT of the neck demonstrates amorphous calcifications anterior to the C1-C2 level, at the site of attachment of the superior tendons of the longus colli muscle. Associated with an elongated retropharyngeal fluid collection that extends from C3-C5.
Arrows point to the amorphous calcifications. The yellow circle shows the retropharyngeal effusion.
Case Discussion
This case illustrates the typical appearance of calcific tendinitis of the longus colli muscle; calcifications at the site of attachment of the longus colli muscle (anterior to the C1-C2 disc space), and retropharyngeal space edema. The absence of lymphadenopathy, intervertebral disc space narrowing or bony erosions helps narrow the differential.