title: Andersson lesion in ankylosing spondylitis.
abstract: A middle-aged male patient developed acute back pain and a lumbar vertebral lesion following trivial physical trauma. The lesion was considered as tuberculous on vertebral x-rays and MRI. After biopsy of the lesion and spinal fixation, the patient was kept on empirical antituberculous treatment (ATT) to which he did not respond. On re-evaluation he was diagnosed to have an Andersson lesion in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). ATT was stopped and he was successfully managed by rest, steroids, methotrexate and sulfasalazine. A careful look at the patient's plain x-ray spine and awareness about the lesion can avoid misdiagnosis of this characteristic vertebral lesion found in AS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, King George's Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. drurmiladhakad@gmail.com
authors.forename: Urmila
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Dhakad
authors.forename: Siddharth K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Das
mesh_terms: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001416:Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D001510:Bed Rest; D001706:Biopsy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013256:Steroids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012460:Sulfasalazine / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D013256:Steroids; D012460:Sulfasalazine; D005492:Folic Acid; D008775:Methylprednisolone; D008727:Methotrexate
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