title: Spinal cord abscess in a heroin addict: case report.
abstract: Spinal cord abscesses are extremely rare, even in intravenous drug abusers. They usually have a poor prognosis unless diagnosed and treated promptly. MRI is the best imaging modality for diagnosis and follow-up. We report a 42-year-old man, an active intravenous drug user, HIV negative, who developed subacute tetraplegia from an intramedullary abscess caused by Staphylococcus aureus. Immediate decompressive surgery and antibiotic treatment led to progressive recovery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroradiology, Hopital Purpan, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Sverzut
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Laval
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Smadja
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gigaud
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sevely
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Manelfe
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D000328:Adult; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000209:etiology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications