title: Osteomyelitis of the odontoid process associated with meningitis and retropharyngeal abscess--case report.
abstract: A 52-year-old man complaining of headache and nuchal pain was treated initially under a diagnosis of bacterial meningitis. The meningitis resisted antibiotic therapy, and one week later was complicated by a ruptured retropharyngeal abscess, which led to the correct diagnosis of osteomyelitis of the odontoid process of the axis. His neck was immobilized in a high neck collar and the retropharyngeal abscess was treated by repeated drainage and irrigation. A long course of antibiotic administration finally resolved the infection. Osteomyelitis of the odontoid process is rare and presents with peculiar signs and symptoms. Careful consideration of the differential diagnosis is needed for the early detection of this potentially serious condition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Osaka Neurological Institute, Toyonaka, Japan. sig-kubo@momo.so-net.ne.jp
authors.forename: Shigeki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kubo
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takimoto
authors.forename: Kazuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hosoi
authors.forename: Shingo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Toyota
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Karasawa
authors.forename: Toshiki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshimine
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004322:Drainage; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009809:Odontoid Process / Q000473:pathology*; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D017703:Retropharyngeal Abscess / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents