Regression of retro-odontoid pseudotumor following botulinum injection into cervical muscles

BACKGROUND: Posterior fixation of C1/2 has become more commonly performed to treat retro-odontoid pseudotumor (ROP). Here, we report a 60-year-old female with cervical dystonia (CD), whose ROP regressed and whose quadriparesis improved after a series of cervical intramuscular botulinum injections. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 60-year-old female with 30 years of CD newly presented with a progressive quadriparesis. When the MRI showed ROP compression the cervical spinal cord, she refused surgery and underwent multiple cervical muscular botulinum injections over the next 2 years. Following these injections, the patient’s quadriparesis improved as the ROP regressed on subsequent MR studies. CONCLUSION: Over a 2-year period, multiple cervical botulinum injections caused regression of a retro-odontoid cervical pseudotumor improvement in the patient’s quadriparesis.