title: Tuberculosis of the odontoid bone: a rare but treatable cause of quadriplegia.
abstract: Radiologic investigation plays an important role in the diagnosis and management of tuberculosis of the odontoid bone. Immediate confirmation of the condition by examination of tissue and surgery may save lives and reduce the morbidity rate substantially. When the clinical history is appropriate, a diagnosis of tuberculosis is strongly suggested by plain films of the cervical spine showing precervical swelling of the soft tissues, narrowing of the disk spaces and focal erosion of the bones and by computed tomography scans demonstrating details of the soft-tissue abnormality, focal bony erosion and sclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital, University of Western Ontario, London.
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Levin
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Vellet
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Munk
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Chait
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009809:Odontoid Process / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000209:etiology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014394:Tuberculosis, Osteoarticular / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*