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Spinal epidural abscess due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a patient with AIDS: case report and review of the literature

2006; Elsevier BV; Volume: 10; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1590/s1413-86702006000200013

1678-4391

Humberto Metta, Marcelo Corti, Liliana Redini, Claudio Yampolsky, Ricardo Schtirbu,

Orthopedic Infections and Treatments

Spinal epidural abscess (SEA) is a rare infectious disorder that often has delayed diagnosis and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality rates. We present a case of an AIDS patient with a SEA due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This type of SEA in AIDS patients is characterized by localized spinal pain and prolonged fever. Magnetic resonance imaging is the method of choice in the diagnostic process. Early diagnosis, followed by specific therapy (surgical decompression combined with antituberculous drugs), is necessary to improve the prognosis of these kinds of patients.