title: Piriformis pyomyositis: a rare cause of sciatica.
abstract: A 30-year-old Thai woman with piriformis pyomyositis presented with sciatica. Computed tomography showed swelling and enhancement of the right gluteus medius and piriformis muscles. She made a complete recovery after a course of intravenous antibiotics. This condition has only been reported three other times and is often diagnosed with difficulty. It could be erroneously dismissed as a lumbar disc prolapse. If untreated, it could lead to prolonged hospital stay and death. A high index of suspicion, early diagnosis and appropriate antibiotic or surgical treatment leads to full recovery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, Outram Road, Singapore 169608. keenwai@hotmail.com
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Chong
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Tay
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal; D009220:Myositis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010388:Pelvis; D012585:Sciatica / Q000209:etiology*