Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Childhood intervertebral disc calcification

  • Original Papers
  • Published:
Child's Nervous System Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Two cases of intervertebral disc calcification in children are reported. A 13-year-old boy presented with right subscapular pain radiating into the axilla with radiographic demonstration of multiple calcified intervertebral discs and a herniated fragment of calcified nucleus pulposus at T2–3. His condition improved with conservative therapy, and follow-up radiographic evaluation revealed resolution of the herniated calcified disc material. A second case of multiple intervertebral disc calcifications was observed incidentally in an asymptomatic 6-year-old boy. The clinical presentation of this condition, its incidence, natural history, proposed etiologies, treatment options, and outcome are reviewed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Asadi A (1959) Calcification of intervertebral discs in children. Am J Dis Child 97:282–286

    Google Scholar 

  2. Baron A (1924) Über eine neue Erkrankung der Wirbelsäule. Jahrb Kinderheilkd 104:357–360

    Google Scholar 

  3. Blomquist H, Lindqvist M, Mattson S (1979) Calcification of intervertebral discs in childhood. Pediatr Radiol 8:23–26

    Google Scholar 

  4. Bradford R, Rice-Edwards M, Shawden H (1989) Herniation of a calcified nucleus pulposus in a child: case report. Br J Neurosurg 3:699–703

    Google Scholar 

  5. Christensen W, Liebman C, Sosman M (1951) Skeletal and periarticular manifestations of hypervitaminosis D. Am J Roentgenol 65:27–39

    Google Scholar 

  6. Connell M (1963) Calcification of the intervertebral discs in children. Clin Radiol 14:87–90

    Google Scholar 

  7. Coventry M (1970) Calcification in a cervical disc with anterior protrusion and dysphagia. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 52:1463–1466

    Google Scholar 

  8. Cronqvist S, Mortensson W (1975) Protrusion of calcified cervical discs into the spinal canal in children. A report of two cases. Neuroradiology 9:223–225

    Google Scholar 

  9. Dias M, Pang D (1991) Juvenile intervertebral disc calcification: recognition, management, and pathogenesis. Neurosurgery 28:130–135

    Google Scholar 

  10. Eyring E, Peterson C, Bjornson D (1964) Intervertebral-disc calcification in childhood. A distinct clinical syndrome. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 46:1432–1441

    Google Scholar 

  11. Francon F, Legrand P (1954) Deux ca de calcification cervicale du “nucleus pulposus.” Presse Med 62:1841–1842

    Google Scholar 

  12. Furukara K, Hoshino R, Hasue M, et al (1977) Cervical intervertebral-disc calcification in a child. Case report with seven year follow-up. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 59:692–693

    Google Scholar 

  13. Goldenberg R, Levinthal G (1936) Supratrochanteric calcifications. J Bone Joint Surg 18:205–211

    Google Scholar 

  14. Hahn Y, McLone D, Uden D (1987) Cervical intervertebral disc calcification in children. Child's Nerv Syst 3:274–277

    Google Scholar 

  15. Kristensen S, Juul A, Larsen K, et al (1984) Cervical intervertebral disc calcification in childhood. Arch Otorhinolaryngol 240:239–242

    Google Scholar 

  16. Lasserre C, Phellipot G (1947) Discite calcifiante intervertébrale. Rev Orthop 33:494–500

    Google Scholar 

  17. Lindberg T (1963) Intervertebral calcinosis in childhood. Ann Pediatr (Paris) 201:172–184

    Google Scholar 

  18. Mainzer F (1973) Herniation of the nucleus pulposus. A rare complication of intervertebral disc calcification in children. Radiology 107:167–170

    Google Scholar 

  19. Matthews P, Leyshon R (1980) Acute calcification in tennis and golfer's elbow. Rheumatol Rehabil 19:151–153

    Google Scholar 

  20. McCarty D, Haskin M (1963) The roentgenographic aspects of pseudogut (articular chronocalcinosis). Am J Roentgenol 90:1248–1257

    Google Scholar 

  21. McKendry R, Unthoff H, Sarkar K, et al (1982) Calcifying tendonitis of the shoulder: prognostic value of clinical histological and radiologic features in 57 surgically treated cases. J Rheumatol 9:75–80

    Google Scholar 

  22. Melnick J, Silverman F (1963) Intervertebral disk calcification in childhood. Radiology 80:399–408

    Google Scholar 

  23. Morris J, Sheppard L (1986) The persistence of clinical and radiological features after intervertebral disc calcification of childhood. Br J Rheumatol 25:219–221

    Google Scholar 

  24. Morris J, Niebauer J (1963) Calcification of the cervical intervertebral disc. Am J Dis Child 106:295–300

    Google Scholar 

  25. Newton T (1958) Cervical intervertebral disc calcification in childhood. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 40:107–118

    Google Scholar 

  26. Ongaro M, Ronconi G (1962) Rilievi clinico-radiologici sulla calcificazione dei dischi invertebrale nell'infanzia. Minerya Pediatr 14:846–851

    Google Scholar 

  27. Peck F Jr (1957) A calcified thoracic intervertebral disc with herniation and spinal cord compression in a child: case report. J Neurosurg 14:105–109

    Google Scholar 

  28. Pierce F Jr, Hanafee W (1960) Calcified cervical discs in a child. Calif Med 92:283–284

    Google Scholar 

  29. Reale F, Gambacorta D (1985) Calcified lumbar disc protrusion in an adolescent. Surg Neurol 24:661–662

    Google Scholar 

  30. Rechtman A, Hermel M, Albert S, et al (1956) Calcification of the intervertebral disk: disappearing, dormant and silent. Clin Orthop 7:218–231

    Google Scholar 

  31. Rocco H, Eyring E (1972) Intervertebral disk infections in children. Am J Dis Child 123:448–451

    Google Scholar 

  32. Sandstrom C (1951) Calcifications of the intervertebral discs and the relationship between various types of calcifications in the soft tissues of the body. Acta Radiol 36:217–233

    Google Scholar 

  33. Schapira D, Goldsher D, Nahir M, et al (1988) Calcified thoracic disc with herniation of the nucleus pulposus in a child. Postgrad Med J 64:160–162

    Google Scholar 

  34. Schechter L, Smith A, Pearl M (1972) Intervertebral disc calcification in childhood. Am J Dis Child 123:608–611

    Google Scholar 

  35. Silverman F (1954) Calcification of intervertebral discs in childhood. Radiology 62:801–816

    Google Scholar 

  36. Smith R, Vottman D, Dimmin J III, et al (1977) Calcified cervical intervertebral discs in children. Report of three cases. J Neurosurg 46:233–238

    Google Scholar 

  37. Sonnabend D, Taylor T, Chapman G (1982) Intervertebral disc calcification syndromes in children. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 64:25–31

    Google Scholar 

  38. Spiegel P, Kengla K, Isaacson A, et al (1972) Intervertebral disc-space inflammation in children. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 54:284–296

    Google Scholar 

  39. Stewart P, Silbiger M, Wolfson S (1974) Intervertebral disc calcification in childhood. Clin Pediatr 13:360–366

    Google Scholar 

  40. Sutton T (1973) Posterior herniation of calcified intervertebral discs in children. J Can Assoc Radiol 24:131–136

    Google Scholar 

  41. Swick H (1975) Calcification of intervertebral discs in childhood. J Pediatr 86:364–369

    Google Scholar 

  42. Walker C (1954) Calcification of intervertebral discs in children. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 36:601–605

    Google Scholar 

  43. Weens H (1945) Calcification of the intervertebral discs in childhood. J Pediatr 26:178–188

    Google Scholar 

  44. Weinberger A, Myers A (1978) Intervertebral disc calcification in adults: a review. Semin Arthritis Rheum 8:69–75

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine One Baylor Plaza, 77030, Houston, TX, USA

    B. Theo Mellion

  2. Section of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Texas Children's Hospital, 6621 Fannin, MC 3-3435, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    John P. Laurent

  3. The Bone and Joint Clinic of Houston, 6624 Fannin, Suite 2600, 77030, Houston, TX, USA

    William C. Watters

Authors
  1. B. Theo Mellion
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. John P. Laurent
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. William C. Watters
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Mellion, B.T., Laurent, J.P. & Watters, W.C. Childhood intervertebral disc calcification. Child's Nerv Syst 9, 233–238 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00303576

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00303576

Key words

Search

Navigation