Presentation
Low back pain. No history of trauma.
Patient Data
Note: This case has been tagged as "legacy" as it no longer meets image preparation and/or other case publication guidelines.
Note indistinctness of affected end plates and altered signal of bone marrow which represents either marrow edema or infarction. The disc is also involved especially anteriorly. No subligamentous or perispinal collections. No abscess formation.
Case Discussion
Three main categories for spinal infections:
- pyogenic
- tuberculous
- fungal (immunocompromised)
In pyogenic infection: early involvement of disc and more bone destruction.
In tuberculous infection: relative sparing of disc; usually subligamentous spread of infection with abscess formation; skipped vertebral lesions is possible due to subligamentous spread.
Note that metastasis sparing the disc.