Recurrent back pain and fevers.
An elderly woman presented with her third episode of back pain, fever and neurological deficits. She subsequently developed pseudogout of the knee, and a diagnosis was made of systemic calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPPD) involving the spine and causing intermittent cauda equina syndrome. This case illustrates the difficulty of differentiating infection from CPPD.
Cameron
Christina R
CR
Department of Medicine, Wellington Hospital, Wellington, New Zealand. chris.cameron@cdhb.govt.nz
Burgess
Carl D
CD
D000368:Aged; D001416:Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology; D002805:Chondrocalcinosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D015299:Discitis / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000473:pathology; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000175:diagnosis; D011128:Polyradiculopathy / Q000209:etiology; D012008:Recurrence; D013166:Spondylitis / Q000175:diagnosis