case_images: PMC10854273_01
case_images: Calcification around the odontoid process on cervical spine CT.. A: horizontal section B: sagittal section.
case_images: cureus-0016-00000052012-i01.jpg
case_images: PMC10854273_01_cureus-0016-00000052012-i01.jpg
case_images: FIG1
case_images: A CT scan of the cervical spine performed without contrast showed calcification around the odontoid process (Figure 1).
case_images: Cervical spine MRI (STIR) showing high signal intensity in the odontoid process (arrow) and fluid accumulation around the odontoid process and anterior to C1-C3 (arrowhead).. STIR: Short Tau Inversion Recovery.
case_images: cureus-0016-00000052012-i02.jpg
case_images: PMC10854273_01_cureus-0016-00000052012-i02.jpg
case_images: FIG2
case_images: An additional cervical spine MRI scan using the short tau inversion recovery (STIR) sequence showed high signal intensity in the odontoid process and fluid accumulation around the odontoid and anterior C1-C3 vertebrae (Figure 2), raising the suspicion of odontoid osteomyelitis, spinal epidural abscess, and retropharyngeal abscess.
case_images: (A) Cervical spine MRI (STIR) with high signal intensity in the odontoid process (arrowhead) and the clivus (arrow). (B) Cervical spine contrast-enhanced CT with abscess (arrow) in the hypoglossal canal (arrowhead).. STIR: Short Tau Inversion Recovery.
case_images: cureus-0016-00000052012-i03.jpg
case_images: PMC10854273_01_cureus-0016-00000052012-i03.jpg
case_images: FIG3
case_images: An MRI scan of the cervical spine performed two weeks after admission showed that the osteomyelitis had spread to the clivus, and the epidural abscess had extended to the level of the hypoglossal canal (Figure 3).