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Acute calcific tendinitis of the longus colli muscle: case report and review of the literature

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Abstract

Purpose

Acute calcific tendinitis of the longus colli muscle (or retropharyngeal tendinitis) is an aseptic inflammatory process characterized by acute posterior neck pain, neck stiffness and dysphagia or odynophagia. Awareness of its existence is crucial in the differential diagnosis, because many other conditions, such as retropharyngeal abscess, meningitis or disc herniation, show similar clinical features. We present a case exhibiting an uncommon symptom (torticollis) and a brief literature review to emphasize the risk of misdiagnosis.

Methods

A 36-year-old woman presented with neck stiffness and torticollis accompanied by dysphagia and prevertebral space sensitivity on the second day.

Results

The diagnosis was established by computed tomography (CT), the gold standard for identifying the presence of prevertebral oedema and calcific deposition associated with retropharyngeal tendinitis. Treatment with NSAIDs and low doses of corticosteroids relieved the symptoms within 48 h.

Conclusions

Retropharyngeal tendinitis is an underreported entity in the literature and orthopaedists should become aware of its existence. Misdiagnosis of this important mimicker may lead to unnecessary antibiotics administration and interventions in the retropharyngeal space.

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Conflict of interest

None of the authors has any potential conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, Medical School, University of Thessalia, Neofytoy 9 St., 41223, Larissa, Greece

    A. H. Zibis & D. L. Arvanitis

  2. Medical School, University of Thessalia, Larissa, Greece

    D. Giannis

  3. Department of Orthopaedics, Medical School, University of Thessalia, Larissa, Greece

    K. N. Malizos

  4. Department of Anatomy, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece

    P. Kitsioulis

Authors
  1. A. H. Zibis
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  2. D. Giannis
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  3. K. N. Malizos
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  4. P. Kitsioulis
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  5. D. L. Arvanitis
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. H. Zibis.

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Zibis, A.H., Giannis, D., Malizos, K.N. et al. Acute calcific tendinitis of the longus colli muscle: case report and review of the literature. Eur Spine J 22 (Suppl 3), 434–438 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-012-2584-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-012-2584-5

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