title: Diagnosis of anterior cervical spinal epidural abscess by US and MRI in a newborn.
abstract: A 10-day-old girl who initially presented with fever developed over five days a complete paresis of both upper arms and swallowing difficulty. After emergency drainage of a retropharyngeal abscess, cervical US demonstrated a cervical anterior epidural mass compressing the cord. MRI confirmed the diagnosis of spinal epidural abscess secondary to C4-C5 spondylodiscitis. Surgical removal of the abscess was followed by complete disappearance of the neurologic symptoms after six months of follow-up. This is the first case of spinal epidural abscess in a newborn to be diagnosed by US and MRI preoperatively. The advantages of these non-invasive imaging modalities are discussed, and compared to myelography.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gudinchet
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chapuis
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Berger
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015299:Discitis / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D011859:Radiography; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography