title: Aspergillus osteomyelitis of the lumbar spine complicated with orbital apex syndrome: A potential role of the Batson's plexus in disease propagation.
abstract: We report a rare case of orbital apex syndrome following epidural steroid injections of the lumbar spine in an immunocompetent individual with osteomyelitis and discitis caused by Aspergillus fumigatus. We suspect that the craniospinal venous system, also known as the Batson's plexus, was the main route for steroid-facilitated disease propagation from the spine to intracranial structures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA.
authors.forename: Jose F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Camargo
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA.
authors.forename: Vimon
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Seriburi
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tenner
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA.
authors.forename: Marc Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: El Khoury
keywords: Aspergillus; Batson's plexus; Orbital apex syndrome; Osteomyelitis; Voriconazole