Abstract
Case report of one patient with tuberculosis of both the posterior and anterior elements of the spine presenting with severe back pain and upper motor neuron type of weakness in both the lower limbs are described who was initially diagnosed as a case of dorsal spine metastasis with unknown primary. This patient underwent extensive radiological and biochemical survey to find out the primary neoplasm but in vain. CT-guided biopsy was done. Biopsy proved the diagnosis of tuberculosis. Proper diagnosis of spinal tuberculosis was made. Patient started on standard anti-tubercular regimen. At 3 months follow-up, patient had no neurological deficit with marked reduction in back pain. Thus, in developing countries where tuberculosis is an endemic disease, tuberculosis must be kept as a differential diagnosis in all cases of extradural compressive myelopathy.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
Wolfgang GL (1978) Tuberculosis joint infection. Clin Orthop Rel Res 136:257–263
Janssens J-P, De Haller R (1990) Spinal tuberculosis in a developed country. A review of 26 cases with special emphasis on abscesses and neurologic complications. Clin Orthop 257:67–75
Alpaslan K, Sabahattin Ç, Filiz Ö (1994) Spinal tuberculosis with circumferential involvement of two non-contiguous isolated vertebral levels: case report. Neurosurgery 35:1154–1158
Fancourt GJ, Ebden P, Garner P (1986) Bone tuberculosis: results and experience in Leicestershire. Br J Dis Chest 80:265–272
Danchaivijitr N, Temram S, Thepmongkhol K, Chiewvit P (2007) Diagnostic accuracy of MR imaging in tuberculous spondylitis. J Med Assoc Thai 90:1581–1589
Ur-Rahman Naim (1980) Atypical forms of spinal tuberculosis. J Bone Joint Surg 62B:162–165
Monaghan D, Gupta A, Barrington NA (1991) Case report: tuberculosis of spine an unusual presentation. Clin Radiol 43:360–362
Hasegawa K, Murata H, Naitoh K, Nagano A (2002) Spinal tuberculosis: report of an atypical presentation. Clin OrthopRelat Res Oct 403:100–103
Ahmadi J, Bajaj A, Destian S (1993) Spinal tuberculosis: atypical observations at MR imaging. Radiology 189:489–493
Mondal A (1994) Cytological diagnosis of vertebral tuberculosis with fine-needle aspiration biopsy. J Bone Joint Surg 76-A:181–183
Conflicts of interest
No funds were received in support of this study. No benefits in any form have been or will be received from a commercial party related directly or indirectly to the subject of this manuscript.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Verma, A., Maini, L., Gautam, V.K. et al. Pott’s disease mimicking metastasis. Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol 21, 285–287 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00590-010-0698-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00590-010-0698-1