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Alamoudi U, Al-Sayed AA, AlSallumi Y, et al. Acute calcific tendinitis of the longus colli muscle masquerading as a retropharyngeal abscess: A case report and review of the literature. Int J Surg Case Rep. 2017;41:343-346doi: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2017.10.063.
Alamoudi, U., Al-Sayed, A. A., AlSallumi, Y., Rigby, M. H., Taylor, S. M., Hart, R. D., & Trites, J. R. B. (2017). Acute calcific tendinitis of the longus colli muscle masquerading as a retropharyngeal abscess: A case report and review of the literature. International journal of surgery case reports, 41343-346. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijscr.2017.10.063
Alamoudi, Uthman, et al. "Acute calcific tendinitis of the longus colli muscle masquerading as a retropharyngeal abscess: A case report and review of the literature." International journal of surgery case reports vol. 41 (2017): 343-346. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijscr.2017.10.063
Alamoudi U, Al-Sayed AA, AlSallumi Y, Rigby MH, Taylor SM, Hart RD, Trites JRB. Acute calcific tendinitis of the longus colli muscle masquerading as a retropharyngeal abscess: A case report and review of the literature. Int J Surg Case Rep. 2017;41:343-346. doi: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2017.10.063. Epub 2017 Nov 11. PMID: 29145108; PMCID: PMC5686463.
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Int J Surg Case Rep. 2017;41:343-346. doi: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2017.10.063. Epub 2017 Nov 11.

Acute calcific tendinitis of the longus colli muscle masquerading as a retropharyngeal abscess: A case report and review of the literature.

International journal of surgery case reports

Uthman Alamoudi, Ahmed A Al-Sayed, Yasser AlSallumi, Matthew H Rigby, S Mark Taylor, Robert D Hart, Jonathan R B Trites

Affiliations

  1. Division of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, Dalhousie University, 5850 University Avenue, Halifax, NS, B3K 6R8, Canada; Department of Otolaryngology, Hail University, Hail, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: [email protected].
  2. Division of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, Dalhousie University, 5850 University Avenue, Halifax, NS, B3K 6R8, Canada; Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
  3. Department of Radiology, Dalhousie University, 5850 University Avenue, Halifax, NS, B3K 6R8, Canada; Department of Medical Imaging, Department of Radiology, King Abdullah Medical City, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
  4. Division of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, Dalhousie University, 5850 University Avenue, Halifax, NS, B3K 6R8, Canada.

PMID: 29145108 PMCID: PMC5686463 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2017.10.063

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Acute calcific longus colli tendinitis, also known as retropharyngeal or acute calcific prevertebral tendinitis, is a reactive self-limiting inflammatory response to acute or subacute deposition of amorphous calcium hydroxyapatite crystals in the tendons of the longus colli muscle, anterior to the C1-C2 disk space.

CASE PRESENTATION: A 53-year-old man presented with a complaint of neck pain and odynophagia over a few days. Blood test findings showed mild leukocytosis and elevated C-reactive protein level. Computed tomography findings showed mild edematous prevertebral thickening involving the retropharyngeal space, predominantly on the left side, with no appreciable surrounding peripheral enhancement. A small amount of linear calcification/ossification involving the superior fibers of the left longus colli muscle, anterior to the C1 arch were also noted.

DISCUSSION: The patient's presentation could be easily misdiagnosed as a retropharyngeal abscess. However, the presence of subtle findings on CT would lead to the correct diagnosis. The management of this condition is mainly with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

CONCLUSION: This study presents the characteristic radiological features of retropharyngeal calcific tendinitis. These features are subtle and could be missed. Once an accurate diagnosis is made, treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is indicated. The purpose of this case report is to highlight this rare condition's diagnosis and management.

Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Acute calcific prevertebral tendinitis; Acute longus colli calcific tendinitis; Neck pain; Odynophagia; Retropharyngeal tendinitis

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