An Unusual Cause of Neck Pain: Acute Calcific Tendinitis of the Longus Colli

Abstract

Calcific tendinitis of the longus colli muscle is a rare, but probably underrecognized form of calcium hydroxyapatite deposition disease. Patients present with severe neck pain, neck stiffness, odynophagia and mildly elevated inflammatory markers. This self-limited condition can easily mimic other serious diseases, such as retropharyngeal abscess, meningitis, infectious spondylodiscitis or cervical fracture. It is therefore important to promptly recognize this benign disease to avoid unnecessary and invasive tests and procedures. We present the case of a 34-year-old woman who developed acute calcific tendinitis of the longus colli following a tick bite to the neck. J Med Cases. 2014;5(3):171-173 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.14740/jmc1600w