Circumferential encasement of the spinal cord in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis.

Myelopathy associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) usually involves the craniocervical junction or mid-cervical spine. We present an unusual case of an encasing circumferential inflammatory mass at the cervico-thoracic junction down to the mid-thoracic spine. The need to consider inflammatory lesions even in unusual anatomical locations in patients with RA is illustrated.