Cervical spine pseudogout with myelopathy and Charcot joints

Abstract

Myelopathy due to calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) crystals in the cervical spine is rare. Neuropathic-like joints are also uncommon manifestations of CPPD crystal disease. We describe a 79-year-old woman with multiple neuropathic joints containing CPPD crystals. She also had a large mass containing CPPD crystals impinging on the cervical spinal cord, causing a myelopathy. She appears to be the first patient with this combination of unusual clinical features with CPPD disease.