Echographic evaluation of tubercular abscesses in lumbar spondylitis.
Thirty-two patients with tubercular lumbar spondylodiskitis were studied by using traditional x-rays and echography. Computed tomography (CT) scans were also employed in six patients. Ultrasound scans detected tubercular abscesses in 17 cases, whereas traditional x-rays diagnosed abscesses in only 10. Echographic patterns are reported depending on the site and contents. Besides assessing the abscess, it was possible to diagnose a case complicated with hydronephrosis due to compression of the ureter. Analysis of the results obtained indicates that the association of traditional x-rays with echography is sufficient to obtain, in most cases, complete and exact diagnoses and that using CT scans can be limited to doubtful cases or those complicated by paraplegia.
Istituto di Radiologia, Università di Padova, Italy.
L
L
Rubaltelli
E
E
De Gerone
G
G
Caterino
D000038:Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015299:Discitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013166:Spondylitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014399:Tuberculosis, Spinal / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography