MRT DIAGNOSIS OF INTRASPINAL AND PARASPIN AL ABSCESSES

Purpose: Analysis of the MRT signals and their extent from intra- and paraspinal abscesses with reference to predisposing factors, their cau ses and localisation. Patients and methods: The histories and MRT find ings in 34 Patients with intra- and paraspinal abscesses were evaluate d retrospectively. Most of the patients (24/34) were older than 50 yea rs. A second peak was below 30 years. Results: 27/34 patients had some underlying disease which predisposed to infection, e.g., diabetes mel litus. The most common causal organisms were Staph. aureus (53%) and s treptococci (15%). In 23/34 cases (68%), the abscesses were in the tho raco-lumbar or lumbar region, while only 6/34 occurred in the upper tw o-thirds of the thoracic spine acid only 5/34 in the cervical region. In only 8/34 was the abscess confined to two vertebral lengths; in the remaining patients it was much more extensive. Intraspinal abscesses were about twice as large as the vertebral components and 1.5 times gr eater than paravertebral abscesses. The age of the abscesses could be estimated approximately from the signals. Conclusions: Contrast enhanc ed MRT permits detailed analysis of the compartments and exact estimat ion of the extent of the lesions and permits accurate monitoring of tr eatment.