Severe neck pain and odynophagia secondary to acute calcific longus colli tendinitis: a case report
Abstract Background Acute calcific longus colli tendinitis is a rare, noninfectious inflammatory condition caused by the deposition of calcium crystals. The condition is self-limiting, yet commonly misdiagnosed. Here we report a case of a patient with severe neck pain and odynophagia initially misdi...
Main Authors: | , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
BMC
2020-09-01
|
Series: | Journal of Medical Case Reports |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13256-020-02480-z |
id |
doaj-fda1bb7a44ef4ef5b659f5f8d1ecfa73 |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-fda1bb7a44ef4ef5b659f5f8d1ecfa732020-11-25T03:25:58ZengBMCJournal of Medical Case Reports1752-19472020-09-011411410.1186/s13256-020-02480-zSevere neck pain and odynophagia secondary to acute calcific longus colli tendinitis: a case reportBrendan Langford0Jennifer Kleinman Sween1David M. Penn2W. Michael Hooten3Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Mayo ClinicDepartment of Hospital Internal Medicine, Mayo ClinicDepartment of Radiology, Mayo ClinicDepartment of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Division of Pain Medicine, Mayo ClinicAbstract Background Acute calcific longus colli tendinitis is a rare, noninfectious inflammatory condition caused by the deposition of calcium crystals. The condition is self-limiting, yet commonly misdiagnosed. Here we report a case of a patient with severe neck pain and odynophagia initially misdiagnosed as a retropharyngeal abscess before establishing the correct diagnosis of acute calcific longus colli tendinitis. Case presentation A 60-year-old Caucasian man presented to an outside emergency department with a 5-day history of neck pain and odynophagia. The neck pain was severe and aggravated by movement. Laboratory evaluation revealed leukocytosis and elevated C-reactive protein. Computed tomography of his neck soft tissues was initially interpreted as a retropharyngeal abscess. Antibiotic therapy with piperacillin/tazobactam was initiated, and the patient was transferred to our tertiary care center for further evaluation and treatment. On physical examination, the patient’s neck range of motion was significantly diminished, and bilateral neck tenderness was present. An otolaryngologist performed an examination with laryngoscopy, the result of which was unremarkable. A radiologist at our facility interpreted his outside magnetic resonance imaging as showing “calcification in the prevertebral muscles at C1-C2, inflammation with edema of the prevertebral muscles, and retropharyngeal space edema/effusion,” consistent with acute calcific longus colli tendinitis. His antibiotics were discontinued, and he was started on intravenous ketorolac. He had significant improvement in his neck range of motion, and his pain diminished greatly. He was discharged on a 10-day course of diclofenac (50 mg three times daily). At 1-week follow-up, the patient was doing well; he had returned to work, and his pain was well controlled. Conclusions This case report details the presentation, characteristic radiographic findings, and management of a patient with an extremely rare condition of neck pain and odynophagia that could be treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13256-020-02480-zLongus colli tendinitisNeck painCalcium crystalsNSAIDs |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Brendan Langford Jennifer Kleinman Sween David M. Penn W. Michael Hooten |
spellingShingle |
Brendan Langford Jennifer Kleinman Sween David M. Penn W. Michael Hooten Severe neck pain and odynophagia secondary to acute calcific longus colli tendinitis: a case report Journal of Medical Case Reports Longus colli tendinitis Neck pain Calcium crystals NSAIDs |
author_facet |
Brendan Langford Jennifer Kleinman Sween David M. Penn W. Michael Hooten |
author_sort |
Brendan Langford |
title |
Severe neck pain and odynophagia secondary to acute calcific longus colli tendinitis: a case report |
title_short |
Severe neck pain and odynophagia secondary to acute calcific longus colli tendinitis: a case report |
title_full |
Severe neck pain and odynophagia secondary to acute calcific longus colli tendinitis: a case report |
title_fullStr |
Severe neck pain and odynophagia secondary to acute calcific longus colli tendinitis: a case report |
title_full_unstemmed |
Severe neck pain and odynophagia secondary to acute calcific longus colli tendinitis: a case report |
title_sort |
severe neck pain and odynophagia secondary to acute calcific longus colli tendinitis: a case report |
publisher |
BMC |
series |
Journal of Medical Case Reports |
issn |
1752-1947 |
publishDate |
2020-09-01 |
description |
Abstract Background Acute calcific longus colli tendinitis is a rare, noninfectious inflammatory condition caused by the deposition of calcium crystals. The condition is self-limiting, yet commonly misdiagnosed. Here we report a case of a patient with severe neck pain and odynophagia initially misdiagnosed as a retropharyngeal abscess before establishing the correct diagnosis of acute calcific longus colli tendinitis. Case presentation A 60-year-old Caucasian man presented to an outside emergency department with a 5-day history of neck pain and odynophagia. The neck pain was severe and aggravated by movement. Laboratory evaluation revealed leukocytosis and elevated C-reactive protein. Computed tomography of his neck soft tissues was initially interpreted as a retropharyngeal abscess. Antibiotic therapy with piperacillin/tazobactam was initiated, and the patient was transferred to our tertiary care center for further evaluation and treatment. On physical examination, the patient’s neck range of motion was significantly diminished, and bilateral neck tenderness was present. An otolaryngologist performed an examination with laryngoscopy, the result of which was unremarkable. A radiologist at our facility interpreted his outside magnetic resonance imaging as showing “calcification in the prevertebral muscles at C1-C2, inflammation with edema of the prevertebral muscles, and retropharyngeal space edema/effusion,” consistent with acute calcific longus colli tendinitis. His antibiotics were discontinued, and he was started on intravenous ketorolac. He had significant improvement in his neck range of motion, and his pain diminished greatly. He was discharged on a 10-day course of diclofenac (50 mg three times daily). At 1-week follow-up, the patient was doing well; he had returned to work, and his pain was well controlled. Conclusions This case report details the presentation, characteristic radiographic findings, and management of a patient with an extremely rare condition of neck pain and odynophagia that could be treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. |
topic |
Longus colli tendinitis Neck pain Calcium crystals NSAIDs |
url |
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13256-020-02480-z |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT brendanlangford severeneckpainandodynophagiasecondarytoacutecalcificlonguscollitendinitisacasereport AT jenniferkleinmansween severeneckpainandodynophagiasecondarytoacutecalcificlonguscollitendinitisacasereport AT davidmpenn severeneckpainandodynophagiasecondarytoacutecalcificlonguscollitendinitisacasereport AT wmichaelhooten severeneckpainandodynophagiasecondarytoacutecalcificlonguscollitendinitisacasereport |
_version_ |
1724594714528710656 |