Discitis--a rare early symptom of ankylosing spondylitis.
This case report describes a patient who suffered from backache at the age of 12 years. The initial diagnosis was Scheuermann's disease but repeated examinations showed a progressive discitis, without signs of arthritis of the sacro-iliac joints. There was also a recurring effusion of the left knee. Three years later the clinical and radiological evaluation showed irreversible immobilisation of the dorsolumbar spine, whereas the sacro-iliac joints were mildly affected. Discitis seems to be a rare early symptom of ankylosing spondylitis.
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc; D008297:Male; D012544:Scheuermann Disease / Q000175:diagnosis; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000175:diagnosis*