CROWNED DENS SYNDROME - A MANIFESTATION OF HYDROXYAPATITE RHEUMATISM

Crowned dens syndrome is defined as an association of acute cervical p ain and calcifications in the peri-odontoid space. The authors report one case of this rare localization of hydroxy-apatite rheumatism and r eview 12 similar cases in the literature. This disease affects only ad ult females. Patients present with inflammatory signs, can be treated with non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs and recover without sequela. Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition can also lead to this syndr ome. Other perioodontoid calcifications and ossifications, usually asy mptomatic, appear only as a radiologically crowned dens.