Spinal Epidural Abscess of Brucella Mimicking Lumbar Disc Herniation: Case Report and Review of the Literature

YAKUPOĞULLARI Y., Koroglu M., YILDIRIM E., Karayol A.

JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGICAL SCIENCES-TURKISH, cilt.28, sa.3, ss.410-416, 2011 (SCI-Expanded) identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 28 Sayı: 3
  • Basım Tarihi: 2011
  • Dergi Adı: JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGICAL SCIENCES-TURKISH
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.410-416
  • İnönü Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

A 37 years old woman admitted to neurosurgery clinic, with progressive nerve root compression symptoms for three months. She had no benefit from some medications and physical therapy courses which were performed due to diagnosis of protruded lumbar disc herniation. At the initial evaluation, she had difficulty on standing up and walking. A cyst 2x3 cm in size was removed from L5-S1 level with surgical operation. Brucella was isolated from the pus culture of the cyst content. The patient was completely recovered with postoperative doxycycline and co-trimoxazole therapy. Review of the published reports have suggested that spinal epidural abscess of brucella has predominantly seen in lumbar region and particularly among the patients over 30 years old. Although alone antimicrobial treatment has been increasingly recommended by some authors, surgical operation plus postoperative antibiotic treatment seems to be very effective for short term recovery. Brucella seroagglutination tests may be very helpful in differential diagnosis.