title: A rare etiology of cauda equina syndrome.
abstract: Fungal infections of the spine are very rare and usually seen in immunocompromised patients. Acute cauda equina syndrome presenting in an immunocompetent patient is usually due to a prolapse of the intervertebral disc. Infective pathology caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis with epidural collection can also have a similar presentation. We present a case of spinal epidural abscess caused by Aspergillus fumigatus, presenting as acute cauda equina syndrome. To the best of our knowledge, spinal aspergillosis presenting as cauda equina syndrome in an immunocompetent patient has not been reported before in the English-language based medical literature. Surgical decompression with antifungal treatment with oral itraconazole yielded a good recovery.
authors.affiliation: Central Institute of Orthopaedics, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Associated Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India. sumitbatra104@rediffmail.com
authors.forename: Sumit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Batra
authors.forename: Sumit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arora
authors.forename: Hemant
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Meshram
authors.forename: Geetika
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Khanna
authors.forename: Shabnam B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Grover
authors.forename: Vinod K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Sharma
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D020802:Epidural Abscess / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D017964:Itraconazole / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011128:Polyradiculopathy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D017964:Itraconazole