A fatal case of spinal tuberculosis mistaken for metastatic lung cancer: recalling ancient Pott's disease

Ringshausen, Felix C.; Tannapfel, Andrea; Nicolas, Volkmar; Wéber, A.; Duchna, Hans‐Werner; Schultze‐Werninghaus, G.; Rohde, Gernot

doi:10.1186/1476-0711-8-32

Cited by 31 publications

(51 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Ringshausen et al [14] have even described a fatal case of a patient with spinal TB, who was mistakenly irradiated for suspected metastatic lung cancer of the spine. They claimed that the most common cause in delaying the diagnosis of Pott's disease is failure to consider this disease.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Isolated atypical spinal tuberculosis mistaken for neoplasia: case report and literature review

Wang

et al. 2012

Eur Spine J

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Introduction We report a case of isolated intra-spinal tuberculosis in a 45 year-old woman. The uncommon findings in MRI were more suggestive of tumor lesion. Materials and methods After 3 month history of low back pain and 2 weeks radiated pain of right lower extremity, an operation was performed and the total intra-spinal mass was resected. Histological examination revealed a granulomatous necrosis with caseum. Symptoms were greatly improved postoperatively and then the patient was treated with four anti-tuberculosis drugs. Conclusion This case indicated the complexity of differentiating atypical spinal tuberculosis from disease which could cause spinal cord and cauda equina compression.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Isolated atypical spinal tuberculosis mistaken for neoplasia: case report and literature review

Wang

et al. 2012

Eur Spine J

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“…Diagnostic difficulties and delays arise in some cases because of similar presentation of the tumours and other infectious diseases [14]. The most common cause of delay in the diagnosis of this disease is failure to consider the diagnosis and long list of diseases in differential diagnosis of vertebral TB.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vertebral tuberculosis presenting as a posterior mediastinal mass

Ünlü¹,

Kayaalp²,

Çimen³

et al. 2015

Pulmonol Respir Res

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Vertebral tuberculosis (TB) or Pott's disease has become uncommon since the advent of antituberculosis drugs and improved public health measures. However, it remains a cause of disease, especially in developing countries. It presents with nonspecific clinical features and atypical radiological findings which may cause delays in diagnosis and lead to mortality and serious morbidity including permanent neurological deficits. This report describes a case of vertebral TB that presented as a posterior mediastinal mass suggesting a tumorous lesion, leading to delay in diagnosis. TB may affect any organ in the body including bones and should always be kept in mind by physicians in the differential diagnosis of the posterior mediastinal lesions.

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“…This reduction can be attributed to the wrong conviction that spinal TB has been eradicated from Western countries [7], while global epidemiological findings highlighted an increase in TB infections of the spine because of aging population and increased prevalence of HIV infection and other immunosuppressive conditions [8]. Misdiagnosis of Pott's disease, which may occur in up to 41% of cases, is often associated with the onset of neurological disorders or TB dissemination which leads to a possible fatal outcome [9]. Delayed diagnosis can have additional negative impact due to the increased risk of nosocomial TB transmission and health care workers exposure to the infection.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Uncommon Presentation of Tuberculosis with Cervical Pott's Disease Initially Suspected as Metastatic Lung Cancer

Buso¹,

Rattazzi²,

Puato³

et al. 2013

TOIDJ

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Cervical Pott's disease is a rare clinical condition whose diagnosis is usually delayed. We report a case of lung tuberculosis (TB) and cervical Pott's disease mimicking a metastatic lung cancer. The patient presented with persistent cervical pain. Radiologic examinations showed the presence of a lytic lesion of C3 vertebral body, associated with spinal cord compression. A CT scan of the thorax showed a lung nodule highly suspicious for malignancy in the apical region of right lung upper lobe. Neurosurgical decompression was performed. Unexpectedly, histological analysis showed the presence of an inflammatory infiltrate suggestive for TB infection. The patient was immediately treated with antituberculous drugs. Atypical forms of spinal TB, such as cervical TB, can be misdiagnosed as primary or metastatic cancers and lead to delay of treatment initiation that could be fatal. Awareness of this uncommon TB presentation is important to prevent morbidity and mortality associated with spinal cord injury and disease dissemination.

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A fatal case of spinal tuberculosis mistaken for metastatic lung cancer: recalling ancient Pott's disease

Cited by 31 publications

References 16 publications

Isolated atypical spinal tuberculosis mistaken for neoplasia: case report and literature review

Isolated atypical spinal tuberculosis mistaken for neoplasia: case report and literature review

Vertebral tuberculosis presenting as a posterior mediastinal mass

An Uncommon Presentation of Tuberculosis with Cervical Pott's Disease Initially Suspected as Metastatic Lung Cancer

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