[Three Cases of Acute Calcific Retropharyngeal Tendinitis].

Acute calcific retropharyngeal tendinitis is an inflammation of the longus coli muscle characterized by the acute onset of neck pain, swallowing pain, and limitations of neck movement. Although symptoms subside spontaneously within one to two weeks, many cases are treated with antibiotics because clinical outcomes are similar to a severe infection of the retropharyngeal area such as a retropharyngeal abscess. We report herein on 3 cases of acute calcific retropharyngeal tendinitis. The first and second cases were hospitalized, had many examinations and were diagnosed retrospectively. The third patient was treated as an outpatient after a CT scan. Typical CT imaging shows prevertebral soft-tissue swelling without ring enhancement, and amorphous calcification just anterior to the atlanto-axial joint, allowing us early diagnosis.