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Cervical spine and crystal-associated diseases: imaging findings

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Abstract

The cervical spine may be specifically involved in crystal-associated arthropathies. In this article, we focus on the three common crystals and diseases: hydroxyapatite crystal deposition disease, calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) deposition disease, and monosodium urate crystals (gout). The cervical involvement in crystal-associated diseases may provoke a misleading clinical presentation with acute neck pain, fever, or neurological symptoms. Imaging allows an accurate diagnosis in typical cases with calcific deposits and destructive lesions of the discs and joints. Most of the cases are related to CPPD or hydroxyapatite crystal deposition; gout is much less common.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Service de Radiologie B, Hôpital Cochin, 27, rue du faubourg Saint Jacques, 75679, Paris Cedex 14, France

    Antoine Feydy, Alain Chevrot & Jean-Luc Drapé

  2. Fédération de Rhumatologie, Hôpital Lariboisière, Paris, France

    Frédéric Lioté

  3. Radiologie, Hôpital Raymond Poincaré, Garches, France

    Robert Carlier

Authors
  1. Antoine Feydy
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  2. Frédéric Lioté
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  3. Robert Carlier
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  4. Alain Chevrot
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  5. Jean-Luc Drapé
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Correspondence to Antoine Feydy.

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Feydy, A., Lioté, F., Carlier, R. et al. Cervical spine and crystal-associated diseases: imaging findings. Eur Radiol 16, 459–468 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-005-2776-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-005-2776-z

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