title: Non-contiguous multifocal spinal tuberculosis involving cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral segments: a case report.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There are only a few cases reported with non-contiguous spinal tuberculosis in the literature. Most of these patients have only two non-contiguous lesions, and in almost all of these cases, surgical treatment is required.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 17-year-old girl with non-contiguous multifocal spinal tuberculosis involving cervical, thoracic, thoracolumbar, lumbar and sacral segments is reported. The patient presented with systemic tuberculosis symptoms and signs, and progressive paraparesis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patient was treated with antituberculous drug therapy and was operated twice for thoracolumbar and cervical spinal lesions. She made an excellent neurological recovery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the patients with non-contiguous spinal involvement, there is a high percentage of requirement of surgical treatment. This may be due to "fulminant" behaviour of the disease in these patients. Early surgical treatment of the cases with large abscesses and systemic tuberculosis may provide early improvement, and must probably be the first treatment modality after general support to the patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, SSK Vakif Gureba Training Hospital, Fatma Sultan M Kahal Bagi S 31/6 Fatih, 34096, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Erhan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Emel
authors.forename: Feyza Karagöz
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Güzey
authors.forename: Deniz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Güzey
authors.forename: N Serdar
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Bas
authors.forename: Baris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sel
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Alatas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D012447:Sacrum; D013123:Spinal Fusion; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae; D014399:Tuberculosis, Spinal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents