Crowned Dens syndrome.

BACKGROUND

Patients with crowned dens syndrome typically present with severe neck pain and have calcium deposits around the odontoid process of the axis on radiographs. To our knowledge, the cases of only thirty-five patients have been reported in the English-language literature and the clinical features remain unclear. The purposes of this study were to examine the clinical features of crowned dens syndrome, determine treatment outcomes, and propose diagnostic criteria.

METHODS

Forty patients with severe neck pain had calcium deposition around the odontoid process on computed tomography scans, and they were thus diagnosed as having crowned dens syndrome. Data were collected in relation to these patients, including the date of onset of neck pain, the presence of inflammatory indicators (increased body temperature, C-reactive protein levels, and white blood-cell count), and treatment outcomes.

RESULTS

The male-to-female ratio was 0.6, and two-thirds of the patients were more than seventy years of age. All patients had markedly restricted neck motion, particularly in rotation, and all had one or more positive inflammatory indicators. Calcium deposition was detected in all areas around the odontoid process, but chiefly behind the process. Pain was typically relieved by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, prednisolone, or both. A combination of both appeared to be the most effective.

CONCLUSIONS

We believe that crowned dens syndrome is more common than previously recognized, especially in elderly patients. It is diagnosed on the basis of acute and severe neck pain; marked restriction of neck motion, particularly in rotation; the presence of inflammatory indicators, such as an elevated C-reactive protein level; calcium deposition around the odontoid process detected by computed tomography; no history of trauma; and the exclusion of other inflammatory diseases and tumors. Prednisolone and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in combination are the recommended treatment for symptom relief.