[The MR tomographic diagnosis of intra- and paraspinal abscesses].
OBJECTIVE
Analysis of the MRT signals and their extent from intra- and paraspinal abscesses with reference to predisposing factors, their causes and localisation.


METHODS
The histories and MRT findings in 34 Patients with intra- and paraspinal abscesses were evaluated retrospectively. Most of the patients (24/34) were older than 50 years. A second peak was below 30 years.


RESULTS
27/34 patients had some underlying disease which predisposed to infection, e.g., diabetes mellitus. The most common causal organisms were Staph. aureus (53%) and streptococci (15%). In 23/34 cases (68%), the abscesses were in the thoraco-lumbar or lumbar region, while only 6/34 occurred in the upper two-thirds of the thoracic spine and only 5/34 in the cervical region. In only 8/34 was the abscess confined to two vertebral lengths; in the remaining patients it was much more extensive. Intraspinal abscesses were about twice as large as the vertebral components and 1.5 times greater than paravertebral abscesses. The age of the abscesses could be estimated approximately from the signals.


CONCLUSIONS
Contrast enhanced MRT permits detailed analysis of the compartments and exact estimation of the extent of the lesions and permits accurate monitoring of treatment.
Lanfermann
H
H
Institut und Poliklinik für Radiologische Diagnostik, Universität zu Köln.
Heindel
W
W
Gierenz
M
M
Haupt
W F
WF
Hildebrandt
G
G
Lackner
K
K
D000038:Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004824:Epidural Space; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D013131:Spine / Q000473:pathology; D013355:Subdural Space
Kernspintomographische Diagnostik intra- und paraspinaler Abszesse.