Crowned Dens Syndrome: A Case Report Describing Refractory Symptoms

Crowned dens syndrome (CDS) is a type of calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease that causes inflammation and pain due to calcium deposition in the odontoid process. Patients typically present with acute cervical pain often associated with fevers, elevated ESR and CRP, and leukocytosis. This presentation has a broad differential and raises concern for diagnoses such as giant cell arteritis and meningitis. In this case report, we describe a patient with classic CT scan findings of odontoid calcifications diagnosed with treatment-refractory CDS.