title: Clivus and cervical spinal osteomyelitis with epidural abscess presenting with multiple cranial neuropathies.
abstract: A 65-year-old diabetic man with a history of otitis was admitted with headache, neck and shoulder pain and cranial nerve abnormalities including sixth, seventh and twelfth nerve palsies, hearing loss and ptosis. Lumbar puncture revealed an elevated CSF protein and pleocytosis. Imaging procedures demonstrated osteomyelitis of the clivus that involved the epidural space and extended within the prevertebral space to the cervical spine. The patient improved after treatment with antibiotics and immobilization of the neck. This case illustrates the importance of recognizing infections of the clivus in patients with cranial nerve abnormalities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Azizi
authors.forename: P B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Fayad
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fulbright
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Giroux
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Waxman
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D000368:Aged; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002442:Ceftazidime / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002939:Ciprofloxacin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003388:Cranial Fossa, Posterior / Q000473:pathology; D003389:Cranial Nerve Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004824:Epidural Space / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000187:drug effects; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D002511:Cephalosporins; D002939:Ciprofloxacin; D002442:Ceftazidime