title: Paravertebral abscess by Escherichia coli and melanoma metastasis in an older woman.
abstract: Paravertebral abscesses are usually caused by Staphylococcus aureus, and often affect older people with diabetes mellitus or immunosuppression. We report a huge lumbar abscess caused by Escherichia coli in an 81-year-old woman with diabetes and melanoma metastasis. Lumbar vertebra and surrounding soft tissues were involved by the Gram-negative infection, and imaging features were indicative of malignant condition. Diagnosis was established by images of magnetic resonance, histopathology, and bacterial culture from abscess fluid. This condition poses diagnosis challenges and seems to be increasing in frequency. Reports of case studies might enhance the suspicion index of primary care physicians about this entity.
authors.affiliation: Medicine Department from Armed Forces Hospital, Brasília-DF, Brazil; Catholic University of Brasília, Brasília-DF, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vitorino Modesto
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: dos Santos
authors.affiliation: Medicine Department from Armed Forces Hospital, Brasília-DF, Brazil; Catholic University of Brasília, Brasília-DF, Brazil.
authors.forename: Viviane Vieira
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Passini
authors.affiliation: Catholic University of Brasília, Brasília-DF, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daniela Gomes
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Gebrim
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgery Service from Armed Forces Hospital, Brasília-DF, Brazil.
authors.forename: Leandro Pretto
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Flores
authors.affiliation: Medicine Department from Armed Forces Hospital, Brasília-DF, Brazil.
authors.forename: Renata Faria
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Medicine Department from Armed Forces Hospital, Brasília-DF, Brazil.
authors.forename: Samuel Abner
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: da Cruz Silva
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002939:Ciprofloxacin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D008161:Lumbosacral Region; D008545:Melanoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000556:secondary; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010360:Patient Transfer; D012307:Risk Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002939:Ciprofloxacin