ACUTE CALCIFIC TENDINITIS OF THE RECTUS FEMORIS AS A SELF-LIMITING CONDITION

We report a patient experiencing acute pain in the hip resulting in a limp. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the pelvis clearly demonstrated calcification within the iliac tendinous origin of the rectus femoris, although this was obscure in plain radiographs. Laboratory findings revealed a systemic inflammatory reaction. She obtained dramatic relief from pain, which parallel improvement in laboratory data, one day after oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug treatment. Inflammatory responses to hydroxyapatite crystals may play an important role in the pathogenesis of the symptoms induced by calcific tendinitis in the rectus femoris, most of which are self-limiting.