Intramedullary Brucellosis



Fig. 16.1
T1-weighted sagittal cervical MRI shows homogenously contrast-enhanced intramedullary lesion with regular shape at the C2 level (From Nas et al. [10], with permission)



A334675_1_En_16_Fig2_HTML.jpg


Fig. 16.2
T1-weighted axial MRI scan shows the same lesion which was located on the right side of spinal cord intramedullary and extending to epidural space (From Nas et al. [10], with permission)


Positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography (PET/CT) scan can provide additional information on the spread of brucellar spondylitis. The efficacy of treatment and the need for further antimicrobial chemotherapy could be assessed with PET/CT [8].



16.3 Incidence


Previously reported available cases of intramedullary brucellosis in the English literature are summarized in Table 16.1. As shown in Table 16.1, systemic brucellosis was present in all cases suffering from intramedullary involvement [1, 2, 6, 7, 911, 14, 15, 19]. The reported lesions were generally abscesses except three cases [1, 14, 15]. The most common site for involvement was the thoracic and upper cervical spinal cord. Keihani-Douste et al. [9] reported a case of multilevel cervicothoracic spinal cord lesion with concurrent multiple brain abscesses. Isolated cervical intramedullary involvement was reported by Nas et al. [10], Hendam et al. [7], Tufan et al. [15], and Talı et al. [14]. Brucella abortus and B. melitensis were the identified pathogens in all the available cases. Blood serology was positive in all cases except the cases of Cokca et al. [2] and Talı et al. [14].


Table 16.1
Previously reported cases of intramedullary neurobrucellosis




































































































Authors/year

Patient age/sex

Type/location of the lesion

Pus culture

Blood culture

Serology

Treatment

Systemic disease

Cokca et al. [2], 1994

17/M

Abscess/T11–L2

B abortus

B. abortus

?

Surgical + medical

Present

Bingol et al. [1],1999

40/F

Granuloma/T5

Not done

No growth

+

Medical

Present

Novati et al. [11], 2002

24/M

Abscess/T3

Not done

B. melitensis

+

Medical

Present

Helvaci et al. [6], 2002

15/F

Abscess/T11–T12

No growth

No growth

+

Surgical + medical

Present

Vajramani et al. [18], 2005

40/F

Abscess/conus medullaris

B. melitensis

B. melitensis

+

Surgical + medical

Present

Keihani-Douste et al. [9], 2006

12/M

Abscess/C1–L4

Not done

?

+

Surgical + medical

Present

Nas et al. [10],

2007

45/F

Abscess/

C1-2

Not done

Not done

+

Medical

Present

Hendam et al. [7], 2014

57/F

Abscess/C4–C5

Not done

Not done

+

Medical

Present

Tufan et al. [15], 2014

19/M

Granuloma/C2

Not done

Not done

Only gold members can continue reading. Log In or Register to continue

Stay updated, free articles. Join our Telegram channel

Dec 11, 2016 | Posted by in NEUROLOGY | Comments Off on Intramedullary Brucellosis

Full access? Get Clinical Tree

Get Clinical Tree app for offline access