Chronic spinal abscess: a case report

To present the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings in patients with chronic spinal abscess and the differential diagnosis with respect to intramedullary tumors. We present the case of a patients with chronic spinal abscess associated with nonspecific symptoms and the absence of fever. MR revealed several nodular lesions in the dorsal spinal cord. Spinal abscess is a rare lesion with a poor prognosis if not diagnosed and properly treated early. Its differential diagnosis with respect to intramedullary neoplasms is important since the clinical and MR features can mimic neoplastic disease, especially in chronic cases with nonspecific clinical findings and sterile culture. MR is the technique of choice in the diagnosis and characterization of this lesion. (Author)