title: A cross sectional study in patients with confirmed spinal tuberculosis in central Taiwan: Analysis of preliminary clinical presentation and neuroradiological findings.
abstract: Spinal tuberculosis (STB) can cause significant functional impairment. The purpose of the present study was to analyze the factors at preliminary presentation and the neuroradiological findings in STB patients. We performed a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of cases with a definitive diagnosis of STB. Four patients with confirmed mycobacterial infection and histopathological findings confirming TB were identified. We noted two key clinical indicators. We also identified seven key neuroradiological findings associated with STB lesions. A high degree of clinical suspicion along with nine neuroradiological findings described in this study are important for STB diagnosis and for starting treatment with antituberculosis agents.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, 135 Nanhsiau Street, Changhua, Taiwan, ROC. Electronic address: chenchanghuachad@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Chang-Hua
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Imaging, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, 135 Nanhsiau Street, Changhua, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Chih-Wei
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, 135 Nanhsiau Street, Changhua, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Jui-Kuo
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology and Biostatics Center, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, 135 Nanhsiau Street, Changhua, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Yu-Jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, 135 Nanhsiau Street, Changhua, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Chun-Yuan
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, 135 Nanhsiau Street, Changhua, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Yu-Min
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001416:Back Pain / Q000209:etiology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012424:Rural Population; D013624:Taiwan; D014399:Tuberculosis, Spinal / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: Preliminary clinical presentation; Preliminary neuroradiological findings; Spine; Tuberculosis