Adult acute calcific discitis confined to the nucleus pulposus in the cervical spine: case report

J Neurosurg Spine. 2013 Aug;19(2):170-3. doi: 10.3171/2013.4.SPINE12906. Epub 2013 Jun 7.

Abstract

Acute calcific discitis is a rare condition in the pediatric population and has been reported in only 2 instances in the adult population. This report describes a case of acute calcific discitis that uniquely presented in the adult cervical spine. A 22-year-old woman presented with the chief complaint of sudden-onset neck pain. Nonsurgical management, including nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, provided moderate symptom relief. Radiography revealed nucleus pulposus calcification at the C2-3 level. Contrast-enhanced MRI did not reveal any additional abnormalities. Further nonsurgical management, including physical therapy and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, led to complete symptom relief within 6 months. Follow-up imaging demonstrated that the calcification had nearly resolved. Acute calcific discitis should be managed conservatively; the prognosis for a complete recovery is excellent. The pathophysiology of the disorder is yet to be elucidated, and the disorder is not exclusive to the pediatric population.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adult
  • Calcinosis / pathology*
  • Calcinosis / therapy
  • Cervical Vertebrae / pathology*
  • Discitis / complications
  • Discitis / pathology*
  • Discitis / therapy
  • Exercise Therapy / methods
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intervertebral Disc / pathology*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Neck Pain / etiology
  • Neck Pain / therapy
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult