Calcium Pyrophosphate Dihydrate Deposition in the Transverse Ligament of the Atlas: an Unusual Cause of Cervical Myelopathy

Overview

Journal Skeletal Radiol

Specialties Orthopedics
Radiology

Date 2007 Feb 1

PMID 17265158

Citations 6

Authors

M Doita

T Shimomura

K Maeno

K Nishida

H Fujioka

M Kurosaka

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

A 75-year-old male presented with progressive myelopathy due to massive retro-odontoid deposits of calcium pyrophosphate dehydrate (CPPD) crystals. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a non-enhanced isointense extradural mass on a T1-weighted image and a heterogeneous intense mass on a T2-weighted image. Computed tomography (CT) showed linear calcification within the mass. The mass was resected via a posterolateral approach resulting in marked improvement of the symptoms. Histological examination revealed birefringent rhomboid crystals consistent with CPPD. The preoperative differential diagnosis of periodontoid CPPD deposition disease in the elderly population should be considered, particularly if CT studies demonstrate small areas of calcification within the retro-odontoid mass.

Citing Articles

Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposition disease and retro-odontoid pseudotumor rupture managed via posterior occipital cervical instrumented fusion: illustrative case.

Malhotra A, Malhotra A, Landry A, Balachandar A, Guest W, Bharatha A J Neurosurg Case Lessons. 2022; 3(8).

PMID: 36130550 PMC: 9379618. DOI: 10.3171/CASE21662.

Upper Cervical Compression Myelopathy Caused by the Retro-Odontoid Pseudotumor With Degenerative Osteoarthritis and Calcium Pyrophosphate Dihydrate Disease: A Case Report and Literature Review.

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Posterior C1-C2 calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposition disease.

Ng I, Arkun K, Riesenburger R BMJ Case Rep. 2016; 2016.

PMID: 26976840 PMC: 4800228. DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2016-214771.

Retro-odontoid calcium pyrophosphate dehydrate deposition: surgical management and review of the literature.

Klineberg E, Bui T, Schlenk R, Lieberman I Evid Based Spine Care J. 2014; 5(1):63-9.

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