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The “Crowned Dens” Revisited: Imaging Findings in Calcium Crystal Deposition Diseases Around the Odontoid
Author(s) -
Viana Sergio L.,
Fernandes João L.,
De Araújo Coimbra Pablo P.,
De Mendonça José L. F.,
Freitas Flávia M. O.,
De Carvalho Barbosa Viana Maria A.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of neuroimaging
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.822
H-Index - 64
eISSN - 1552-6569
pISSN - 1051-2284
DOI - 10.1111/j.1552-6569.2009.00365.x
Subject(s) - medicine , calcium pyrophosphate , radiology , asymptomatic , radiological imaging , calcium , pathology
ABSTRACT The so‐called “crowned dens” is a peculiar manifestation of calcium crystal deposition diseases, either caused by calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate or caused by calcium hydroxiapatite crystals, characterized by the presence of calcific deposits around the odontoid, often showing a crown‐like configuration on imaging. It has protean clinical and radiological pictures, and care should be taken to avoid misinterpretation and diagnostic errors. Although asymptomatic in many patients, this entity may present as a predominantly algic or febrile condition, and in some cases, signs of compression of the spinal cord may be the major complaint. The detection of calcifications in the periodontoid tissues is the key to the diagnosis, erosive osseous changes, and variably calcified soft‐tissue masses being occasionally associated. Computed tomography is the most important imaging study to be performed in this setting.