Abstract
Case report
We report a case of an intramedullary spinal cord abscess (ISCA) in a 14-month-old child. This case demonstrates clinical and radiological features and emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis and treatment. Early surgical intervention and adjuvant antibiotic therapy have been shown to improve the clinical outcome. Successful outcome depends on early diagnosis and aggressive management.
Discussion
Spinal intramedullary abscess is a rare neurosurgical entity. They can hardly be distinguished from neoplasms. Hart described the first case in 1830. Since then, approximately 70 cases have been reported. An acute spinal intramedullary abscess may present as a cord syndrome with back pain and fever, contrasting with chronic spinal intramedullary abscess, which tends to have a less specific symptomatology.
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A commentary on this paper is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00381-003-0803-4
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Guzel, N., Eras, M. & Guzel, D.K. A child with spinal intramedullary abscess. Childs Nerv Syst 19, 773–776 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-003-0802-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-003-0802-5