Imaging diagnostic role in idiopatic calcification of intervertebral disc in children. A case report

The idiopathic calcification of the intervertebral disc in infancy is a rare syndrome with unknown aetiology. This pathology is more frequent in males, with predominant localization to cervical spine. The natural evolution of the syndrome is the progressive and spontaneous resorption of the calcific deposit, with symptoms regression. We report a case of an acute and ingravescent torticollis in a 10 y.o. child, with reference to a recent minor cervical distorsion, resistant to analgesic treatment. X-ray evaluation, executed after a week from the torticollis insorgence, show an oval calcification in the nucleus pulposus of the C6-C7 intervertebral disc. The CT and especially the MRI concurred to recognize a discal ernia and an adjacent osteo-ligamentous pathologic partecipation. In particular, MRI showed the adjacent vertebral spongy bone edema and the active enthesopathy of the posterior longitudinal ligament.