A cross sectional study in patients with confirmed spinal tuberculosis in central Taiwan: Analysis of preliminary clinical presentation and neuroradiological findings

Indian J Tuberc. 2016 Apr;63(2):70-3. doi: 10.1016/j.ijtb.2016.05.014. Epub 2016 Jul 14.

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.

Keywords: Preliminary clinical presentation; Preliminary neuroradiological findings; Spine; Tuberculosis.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Back Pain / etiology
  • C-Reactive Protein / analysis
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Fever / etiology
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Rural Population
  • Taiwan
  • Tuberculosis, Spinal / diagnosis*

Substances

  • C-Reactive Protein