Acute Calcific Tendinitis of the Longus Colli

Acute calcific tendinitis of the longus colli is an unusual cause of acute neck pain and stiffness. Acute calcific tendinitis is a relatively benign inflammatory condition that can clinically mimic more serious entities such as retropharyngeal abscess, spondylodiscitis, or spine trauma. On computed tomography, acute calcific tendinitis shows characteristic signs of amorphous calcification in the longus colli tendon at the C1 to C2 level and prevertebral fluid, which can help to distinguish this from other more ominous conditions afflicting the neck. This report presents the computed tomography features of this rare entity in three patients presenting with acute neck pain and stiffness.