[A woman in her fifties with neck pain and increased sedimentation rate].

Background: Spondylitis in the upper cervical spine can have an insidious onset, with symptoms mimicking low-grade infections or common musculoskeletal disorders. Some patients have neurological symptoms, and if untreated, the outcome may be fatal.

Case Presentation: A woman in her fifties had general malaise, weight loss and neck pain over 6-8 weeks.