title: Intramedullary spinal cord abscess complicating thoracic spondylodiscitis caused by Bacteroides fragilis.
abstract: Intramedullary spinal cord abscess associated with infectious spondylodiscitis is a rare entity. The case of a 66-year-old man with an intramedullary spinal cord abscess complicating thoracic spondylodiscitis is presented. The patient was unable to ambulate independently due to weakness of the legs. MR imaging showed findings suggestive of infectious spondylodiscitis at the T5-T6 level associated with epidural and intramedullary spinal cord abscesses. Biopsy of the intervertebral disc was performed and Bacteroides fragilis was isolated. Antibiotic therapy was instituted, and MR imaging of the thoracic spine was performed 6 weeks after the initiation of treatment, showing resolution of the epidural and intramedullary spinal cord abscesses.
authors.affiliation: Service de Radiologie, Faculté de Médecine Saint-Antoine, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, 184 rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine, 75571 Paris Cedex 12, France. michelcrema@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Michel D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Crema
authors.forename: Clement
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pradel
authors.forename: Monica D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Marra
authors.forename: Lionel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Arrivé
authors.forename: Jean-Michel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Tubiana
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001442:Bacteroides Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D001441:Bacteroides fragilis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods; D002981:Clindamycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015299:Discitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000008:administration & dosage; D035583:Rare Diseases; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D008795:Metronidazole; D002981:Clindamycin