Rheumatoid discitis with cord compression at the thoracic level.
A 63-year-old man presented with spinal cord compression caused by rheumatoid discitis at a high thoracic level. Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging proved to be very useful in evaluating the extent of the inflammatory process. Early decompression and internal fixation resulted in cure with only some residual functional impairment.
Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital, Leiden, The Netherlands.
I E
IE
van der Horst-Bruinsma
H M
HM
Markusse
J D
JD
Macfarlane
C J
CJ
Vielvoye
D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications*; D015299:Discitis / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007796:Laminectomy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D013909:Thorax; D014054:Tomography