A case of calcific retropharyngeal tendinitis suspected to be a retropharyngeal abscess upon the first medical examination

We report a case of calcific retropharyngeal tendonitis that was difficult to distinguish from retropharyngeal abscess. The patient was a 34-year-old woman who complained of severe cervical pain and stiffness for 1 day. She had a fever and moderately elevated WBC. Fine needle aspiration of the swollen region of the retropharyngeal wall could not elucidate the pus characteristics. Enhanced CT scan showed no signs of an abscess, but clearly showed calcifications in front of the C1-2 cervical spine. An emergency drainage operation was avoided, and the patient fully recovered after treatment with NSAIDs and steroids.