title: Intramedullary cervical abscess in the setting of aortic valve endocarditis.
abstract: Spinal cord tissue has a remarkable resistance to infection. An intramedullary abscess is an exceptional complication of infective endocarditis in the post-antibiotic era. We describe the case of a 42-year-old man who presented with fever and cephalea. Two days later, left-side numbness, lack of sphincter control, and a new aortic murmur were noticed. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated an 8 ×15-mm intramedullary cervical abscess. Transesophageal echocardiography revealed an aortic valve perforation as a result of infective endocarditis. Conservative management was decided for the intramedullary abscess.
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Surgery Department, University Hospital of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain elearnaiz@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: María Elena
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Arnáiz-García
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Surgery Department, University Hospital of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.
authors.forename: Jose María
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: González-Santos
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Surgery Department, University Hospital of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: López-Rodriguez
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Surgery Department, University Hospital of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.
authors.forename: María José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Dalmau-Sorli
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Surgery Department, University Hospital of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bueno-Codoñer
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Surgery Department, University Hospital of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.
authors.forename: Adolfo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arévalo-Abascal
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Abscess; aortic valve insufficiency; bacterial; endocarditis; paraparesis; spinal cord diseases; streptococcal infections