Acute calcific prevertebral tendonitis mimicking tension-type headache.

A 74-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital due to severe nuchal pain and occipitalgia. Neurological examination found neck stiffness but no throat pain or dysphagia. Blood examination showed slight elevation of white blood cell count, but C-reactive protein level was normal. Cerebrospinal fluid examination found no abnormalities. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging demonstrated no abnormalities in the brain. Cervical CT showed a small calcification in front of the C1 body. Cervical T(2)-weighted MR imaging showed a high intensity area in front of the upper cervical vertebral body from C1 to C4, suggesting inflammation of the longus colli muscles. We diagnosed acute calcific prevertebral tendonitis. She was administered nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Her symptoms gradually improved and she was discharged without neurological deficit 8 days after admission. It is important to be aware of the possibility of this rare disease in a patient with severe occipitalgia but no sign of intracerebral lesion.