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Orthopaedics & Traumatology: Surgery & Research
Volume 97, n° 3
pages 341-344 (mai 2011)
Doi : 10.1016/j.otsr.2010.09.021
accepted : 6 September 2010
Clinical reports
Benign febrile cervicalgia due to calcific retropharyngeal tendinitis: Case study
 

S. Queinnec a, D. Petrover b, P. Guigui a, B. Ilharreborde a, c, ⁎
a Beaujon Hospital, Orthopedics Dept, AP–HP, 100, boulevard du Général-Leclerc, 92110 Clichy, France 
b Lariboisière Hospital, Medical Imaging Dept, AP–HP, 2, rue Ambroise-Paré, 75475 Paris cedex 10, France 
c Hôpital Robert-Debré, assistance publique des hôpitaux de Paris, université Paris VII, 48, boulevard Sérurier, 75019 Paris, France 

Corresponding author. Department of Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery, Robert-Debré Hospital, Paris VII University, AP-HP, 48, Boulevard Sérurier, 75019 Paris, France. Tel.: +33 0 1 40 03 30 49; fax: +33 0 1 40 03 53 37.
Summary

Periarticular calcific tendinopathy has been well described, but no retropharyngeal locations have been reported in the surgical orthopedic literature. This pathology is a diagnostic pitfall, leading to fruitless invasive examinations and treatment. The clinical aspect is misleading, but pathognomic imaging can establish diagnosis. We report a case of febrile postoperative cervicalgia, initially suggestive of a septic complication, but in which imaging indicated retropharyngeal calcific tendinitis.


Keywords : Spine, Retropharyngeal calcific tendinitis, Prevertebral space


OutlineMasquer le plan
Introduction
Observation
Discussion
Conclusion
Disclosure of interest
Introduction

Periarticular calcification in the shoulder, hip and elbow has been fully described and categorized as calcific tendinopathy. Similar retropharyngeal but prevertebral calcification has also been reported by ENT specialists and radiologists [1, 2, 3]. Calcific retropharyngeal tendinitis, however, has so far never been described in the French-language orthopedic literature. It is considered rare in the literature, but the frequency is not known with precision. It is generally asymptomatic, but can manifest as febrile cervicalgia, sometimes with postoperative onset, which can mislead diagnosis.

We here report a case of calcific retropharyngeal tendinitis following lumbar discectomy.

Observation

This 56 year-old man had undergone L4-L5 lumbar discotomy for discal hernia. He complained of sudden neck pain 36hours postoperatively, with associated odynophagia and reduced cervical spine mobility. On admission, his temperature was 38.3°C. The surgical scar was clean, non-inflammatory and painless on palpation, which ruled out cicatricial abscess. Neurological examination was normal. There was an inflammatory syndrome on biological analysis, with elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) at 46mg/L and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) of 41mm/hr at hour one.

Given this aspect of febrile cervicalgia, we considered a diagnosis of infectious cervical spondylodiscitis. Emergency magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), however, failed to confirm this diagnosis, revealing none of the classic signs of spondylodiscitis: T1 hyposignal and T2 hypersignal of disc and adjacent vertebral plates (Figure 1). There was no intra-canal abnormality. Prevertebral T2 hypersignal was seen in the longus colli, indicating a liquid effusion (Figure 2). These images suggested calcific retropharyngeal tendinitis. Non-steroid anti-inflammatory treatment was delivered intravenously for the first 48hours and then per os for a total of two weeks.



Figure 1


Figure 1. 

Sagittal T1 MRI slice: dorsal spondylodiscitis, showing disc involvement and vertebral plate lesions.

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Figure 2


Figure 2. 

Sagittal T1 MRI slice: calcific retropharyngeal tendinitis, showing soft prevertebral parts pushed back by a liquid effusion facing C2, with normal disc and vertebral plate aspect.

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Evolution quickly became favorable, with complete resolution of pain and apyrexia and normalization of biological factors within 48hours. Clinical examination at last follow-up (24months) found no abnormality or functional complaint.

Discussion

This is an original case, presenting a rare pathology, little known in orthopedics, but simple to treat. An initial diagnostic error, as frequently reported in the literature, however, may lead to unhelpful invasive procedures being performed.

Calcific retropharyngeal tendinitis was first described by Hartley in 1964 [4]. Calcific hydroxyapatite deposits are found in the longus colli, comprising three groups of muscles: a vertical group, connecting the transverse process of the first three thoracic vertebrae to the mid cervical spine; a superior oblique group, between the transverse process of vertebrae 3, 4 and 5 and the anterior arc of the atlas; and a minor inferior oblique group. Deposits are most often found in the superior oblique group.

The physiopathology of deposit release remains controversial, but most cases have been secondary to minor trauma or upper airway infection [1, 5, 6]. In the present case, the most likely hypothesis was trauma linked to intubation and the associated hyperextension maneuvers.

Few reports have been published to date, and these mainly in radiology and ENT journals. Series have mainly been small [7]. There have been no observations reported in the French-language orthopedic literature. The most frequently affected population is the 30 to 60 year-old age group [5], which corresponds to the present case. No sex-ratio predominance has been reported. Clinical diagnosis is based on a three-fold association of posterior neck pain without trigger location, severely restricted cervical spine mobility amplitude, and odynophagia. These signs may be accompanied by generally moderate fever. Moderately elevated biological inflammatory parameters (ESR, CRP) and leukocytosis (10.9-14.3 G/L) are usually found [1, 5]. The present case was particularly deceptive, as the clinical signs were associated with 38.3°C fever and an inflammatory biological syndrome that was hard to interpret in the early postoperative course.

Imaging is the essential means of establishing diagnosis, by precise radiological description [2, 7, 8]. Firstly, lateral cervical spine X-ray reveals tumefaction of the prevertebral soft parts, from C1 to C4. Calcifications are pathognomic, but cannot always be seen on standard lateral views without benefit of hindsight. In the present case, initial cervical spine X-ray views were lacking, and the clinical suggestion of infectious spondylodiscitis led to performing MRI [6]. CT or MRI reveals retraction of prevertebral soft tissue and of the pharyngeal lumen. CT has better resolution for identifying prevertebral calcification (Figure 3). Calcification generally extends from C1 to C3, although one case was described with calcification facing the C5-C6 disc [8]. MRI shows hypersignal on T2-weighted sequences for the C1-C4 prevertebral muscles. Gadolinium injection confirms diagnosis, revealing prevertebral liquid effusion.



Figure 3


Figure 3. 

Sagittal bone-window CT slice: prevertebral calcification, showing calcification facing C2.

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The main differential diagnosis in imaging is with odontoid articular chondrocalcinosis with its typical “crowned tooth” aspect (Figure 4), but which generally occurs in older patients. Presence of a supernumerary bone may also be suggested, but is a diagnosis of exclusion.



Figure 4


Figure 4. 

Transverse (a) and frontal (b) CT slices: odontoid chondrocalcinosis, with typical crowned tooth aspect.

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The main differential diagnoses given an aspect of “febrile angina” are spondylodiscitis, cellulitis or retropharyngeal abscess. MRI may be misleading, as calcification may be mistaken for a tiny abscess, but can rule out spondylodiscitis in case of a normal aspect in plates and discs. CT can also confirm the absence of vertebral plate pathology, and contrast injection may find no peripheral heightening, as would be typical in case of organized abscess (Figure 5).



Figure 5


Figure 5. 

Contrast-enhanced sagittal CT slice: C3, C4 and C5 spondylodiscitis with voluminous prespinal effusion from C2 to C5 and C3-C5 epiduritis. The effusion is hypodense, with peripheral uptake.

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The suggestion of infectious diagnosis may lead to fruitless aggressive procedures, such as puncture or surgical biopsy [2, 5]. In the present case, imaging enabled any such procedure to be avoided.

Treatment of calcific tendinitis is based upon non-steroid anti-inflammatory medication. Evolution quickly becomes favorable, with symptoms diminishing with two or three days and resolving within one or two weeks [1, 2, 5]. Intravenous corticotherapy is not necessary. One single case of recurrence has been reported [5, 9].

Conclusion

The diagnosis of calcific retropharyngeal tendinitis needs to be known, and considered in case of postoperative or de novo cervicalgia with or without fever, associated with odynophagia. Imaging is pathognomic and should enable diagnosis, thereby avoiding aggressive initial management of suspected cervical infection.

Disclosure of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts on interest concerning this article.

References

[1]
Kaplan M.J., Eavey R.D. Calcific tendinitis of the longus colli muscle Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 1984 ;  93 : 215-219
[2]
Eastwood J., Hudgins P., Malone D. Retropharyngeal effusion in acute calcific prevertebral tendinitis: diagnosis with CT and MR imaging Am J Neuroradiol 1998 ;  19 : 1789-1792
[3]
Kusunoki T., Muramoto D., Murata K. A case of calcific retropharyngeal tendinitis suspected to be a retropharyngeal abscess upon the first medical examination Auris Nsus Larynx 2006 ;  33 : 329-331 [cross-ref]
[4]
Hartley J. Acute cervical pain associated with retropharyngeal calcium deposit. A case report J Bone and Joint Surg 1964 ;  46A : 1753-1754
[5]
Ring D., Vaccaro A.R., Scuderi G., Pathria M.N., Garfin S.R. Acute calcific retropharyngeal tendinitis. Clinical presentation and pathological characterization J Bone Joint Surg 1994 ;  76A : 1636-1642
[6]
Razon R.V., Nasir A., Wu G.S., Soliman M., Trilling J. Retropharyngeal calcific tendinitis: report of two cases J Am Board Fam Med 2009 ;  22 : 84-88 [cross-ref]
[7]
Artenian D.J., Lipman J.K., Scidmore G.K., Brant-Zawadzki M. Acute neck pain due to tendonitis of the longus colli: CT and MRI findings Neuroradiol 1989 ;  31 : 166-169 [cross-ref]
[8]
Park S.Y., Jin W., Lee S.H., Park J.S., Yang D.M., Ryu K.N. Acute retropharyngeal calcific tendinitis: a case report with unusual location of calcification Skeletal Radiol 2010 ;  39 : 817-820 [cross-ref]
[9]
Haun C.L. Retropharyngeal tendinitis Am J Radiol 1978 ;  130 : 1137-1140



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Article Outline
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Start of article
Introduction
Observation
Discussion
Conclusion
Disclosure of interest
References