Intervertebral disc calcification in childhood--a case report and review of the literature

Acta Neurochir (Wien). 2001;143(1):89-93. doi: 10.1007/s007010170143.

Abstract

The authors report the case of a 10-year-old girl with intervertebral disc calcifications from the levels C6/C7 to Th1/Th2, presenting with a herniated calcified intervertebral disc at the C7/Th1 level, causing spinal cord compression with subsequent progressive paresis and sensory loss of her left leg. After anterior cervical discectomy and fusion the neurological deficits completely resolved within 2 weeks. It can be concluded that calcification of an intervertebral disc is a rare syndrome in childhood, causing progressive neurological deficit only in a few reported cases. Although the treatment of choice is conservative, surgery is required in patients who develop progressive neurological deficit.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Calcinosis / diagnosis*
  • Calcinosis / pathology
  • Calcinosis / surgery
  • Cervical Vertebrae* / pathology
  • Cervical Vertebrae* / surgery
  • Child
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intervertebral Disc Displacement / diagnosis*
  • Intervertebral Disc Displacement / pathology
  • Intervertebral Disc Displacement / surgery
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Neurologic Examination
  • Spinal Fusion
  • Thoracic Vertebrae* / pathology
  • Thoracic Vertebrae* / surgery