Discitis osteomyelitis

Case contributed by Frank Gaillard
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Patient presenting with lower limb weakness.

Patient Data

Age: Adult
mri

MRI demonstrates features consistent with C5/6 discitis osteomyelitis with cord compression. Note that on the images provided there is no evidence of an epidural abscess. Rather, the whole epidural mass enhances homogeneously consistent with an epidural phlegmon. 

Case Discussion

The patient went on to have surgical decompression confirming the presence of infection. Microbiology demonstrated gram-positive cocci. 

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