Magnetic resonance imaging findings of musculoskeletal brucellosis.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of patients with musculoskeletal brucellosis.


METHODS
Sixty-eight among 304 patients with musculoskeletal brucellosis, aged 12-82 years (average, 50.2 years), were included in the study. Patients were diagnosed based on clinical findings, Brucella agglutination tests, and MRI findings. MRI was performed to all of the patients with sacroiliitis, spondylitis-spondylodiscitis, and peripheral arthritis.


RESULTS
Brucella serum agglutination test was >1/160 in all cases and blood cultures were positive in twelve cases. The most commonly affected site was the spine (57.3%), wherein lumbar vertebrae were found to be most commonly affected. The second most common affected site was sacroiliac joint (26.4%), whereas peripheral joints were affected in 11 cases (16.1%).


CONCLUSIONS
Brucellosis may affect various sites in musculoskeletal system. The spine was the most frequently affected site in our study. Sacroiliac joints and the other peripheral joints were less commonly involved sites. Brucellosis should be included in the differential diagnosis of a patient with arthralgia or symptoms of musculoskeletal system disorders especially in endemic areas.
Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Firat University, 23119, Elazig, Turkey. Electronic address: bozgeyik4@hotmail.com.
Zulkif
Z
Bozgeyik
Department of Radiology, Van Government Hospital, 65300, Van, Turkey.
Serpil
S
Aglamis
Department of Radiology, Elazig Government Hospital, 23200, Elazig, Turkey.
Pinar Gundogan
PG
Bozdag
Department of Infection Disease, Faculty of Medicine, Firat University, 23119, Elazig, Turkey.
Affan
A
Denk
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002002:Brucella / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D009141:Musculoskeletal System / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
Brucellosis; Magnetic resonance imaging; Peripheral arthritis; Sacroiliitis; Spondylodiscitis