title: Vertebral blastomycosis with paravertebral abscess: report of eight cases and review of the literature.
abstract: Bone is the third most frequent site of disease in patients with blastomycosis, and the vertebrae are among the bones affected most often. We describe the clinical features and treatment of eight patients with vertebral blastomycosis and review the literature regarding this disease. All eight patients had destructive vertebral lesions evident on radiographs, and all had clinical or radiographic evidence of a contiguous abscess. The lower thoracic or lumbar regions were affected most often. Fever and skin lesions typical of blastomycosis were variably present. All but one patient had an abnormal chest radiograph. Treatment included long-term antifungal therapy and drainage of large fluid collections. Five of the eight patients were cured of their disease. Of the other 3 patients, 1 is still receiving therapy and is probably cured, 1 died of blastomycosis, and the status of 1 is unknown. In areas of endemicity, blastomycosis should be a diagnostic consideration for any patient with a destructive vertebral lesion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Little Rock 72205, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saccente
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Abernathy
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Pappas
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Bradsher
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001759:Blastomycosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D013131:Spine / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015898:Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed