Discrimination of Tuberculous Spondylitis from Pyogenic Spondylitis on MRI

Abstract

MRI was accurate for differentiation of tuberculous spondylitis from pyogenic spondylitis.

Neuroimaging of infections

“…Tuberculous spondylitis more often shows a well-defined paraspinal abnormal signal, a thin smooth abscess wall, subligamentous spread to three or more vertebral bodies and involvement of multiple, mostly thoracic vertebral bodies. 23 It is important to bear in mind that rare cases of fungal vertebral osteomyelitis, mostly due to aspergillus and rarely cryptococcus can show the same MRI findings as bacterial spondylitis. 24,25 Spinal mucormycosis has been reported in some patients being treated for leukemia.…”

Evaluation of rapid GeneXpert MTB/RIF method using DNA tissue specimens of vertebral bones in patients with suspected spondylitis TB

“…3 Spondylitis TB is also known as Pott's disease, an infection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis that attacks the vertebral bone. 4,5 Spondylitis TB accounts for 50% of all tuberculosis in bones and joints. On developing countries, 60% of spondylitis TB reported attacking population under 20 years old, while it commonly strikes more elderly population in developed countries.…”

“…Although it is not merely significant, this disease is more often discovered in male than female population. 5 Spondylitis TB begins to spread by a hematogenic route from an organism, begin to grow in the anterior aspects of vertebral bodies, close to the intervertebral disc. The inflammatory process will start to scrapes cortical parts of bone, and involve the nearest vertebral body from the inflammatory area.…”

“…The inflammatory process will start to scrapes cortical parts of bone, and involve the nearest vertebral body from the inflammatory area. [5][6][7] Healing in spondylitis TB can produce a partial or complete fusion of vertebral bodies. The possibility of an infection can be greater if the upper site of thoracic and lumbar aspects of the vertebra is lower than normal.…”

“…The possibility of an infection can be greater if the upper site of thoracic and lumbar aspects of the vertebra is lower than normal. 5,6 Diagnosis of spondylitis TB can be confirmed using a complete clinical evaluation, including the recent history of contacts with TB patient, epidemiological assessment, clinical symptoms, and neurological examination. Acid fast staining and microbiological culture shall be performed to confirm the infection of M. tuberculosis in suspected cases.…”