Cervical neck pain. Per Epic, patient reports neck pain since one week with decreased range of motion and difficulty swallowing since 4 days. Patient also has a history of MVA on 5/30. The cervical vertebral bodies are appropriate in height. There is minimal retrolisthesis of C4 on C5. Alignment is otherwise maintained. Bone marrow signal is within normal limits. There is a subcentimeter focus of calcification inferior to the anterior arch of C1 which is again seen, and better appreciated on recent CT. There is edema involving the longest colli musculature and moderate-sized retropharyngeal effusion.The cervical spinal cord has normal signal characteristics and overall morphology.Degenerative changes are seen in the cervical spine with multilevel disc desiccation, individual levels as described below:C2-3: No significant compromise to the spinal canal or neural foramina.C3-4: Minimal disc bulge. No significant compromise to the spinal canal or neural foramina.C4-5: There is a disc bulge eccentric to the right which effaces the ventral thecal sac. There is mild to moderate narrowing of the right neural foramen. Left neural foramen is patent.C5-6: No significant compromise to the spinal canal or neural foramina.C6-7: No significant compromise to the spinal canal or neural foramina.C7-T1: No significant compromise to the spinal canal or neural foramina.The vertebral artery flow voids appear to be intact. Paraspinous soft tissue structures appear within normal limits.
Edema involving the longus colli muscle with moderate-sized retropharyngeal effusion and focus of prevertebral calcification. Findings are most consistent with calcific tendinitis. Infection causing the retropharyngeal effusion may also be considered but given the focus of prevertebral calcification is less likely.No evidence of traumatic injury. Ligamentous structures are intact. No evidence of bone marrow edema.