title: 'Precipitation sign': a new radiological sign for spinal intramedullary tubercular abscess.
abstract: METHODS
  We came across two patients with holocord tuberculosis exhibiting similar radiological picture, which may aid in early diagnosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We have described a new radiological sign for early diagnosis of intramedullary tubercular abscess.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observations from an endemic zone for tuberculosis (India).
  
  
  METHODS
  Surgical excision followed by histological and microbiological examination and retrospective correlation of clinical-radiological-surgical and pathological picture.
  
  
  RESULTS
  'Precipitation sign' can be helpful in the diagnosis of intramedullary tuberculosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Presence of an intradural extramedullary mass at the lower end of the spinal cord associated with holocord T2 hyperintensities of the spinal cord can be called as precipitation sign and should raise the suspicion of intramedullary tubercular abscess.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, India.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chittem
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, India.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bommanakanti
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, India.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Alugolu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents