INTRAMEDULLARY TUBERCULOUS ABSCESS - A CASE-REPORT

Study Design. This case report shows an intramedullary thoracic spinal cord abscess secondary to Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a 7-year-old boy with chronic progressive paraparesis and hypesthesia below T10. Ob jectives. The treatment of this patient involved drainage of pus follo wed by appropriate chemotherapy. Summary of Background Data. Abscess a nd tuberculomas of the spinal cord are rare entities. They are indisti nguishable from neoplasms. The possibility of tubercular abscess or gr anuloma should be kept in mind when an intraspinal mass is found, prov ided that the clinical history is unusual for tumor. Methods. A left T 7-T8 hemilaminectomy was performed. A quantity of pus was drained thro ugh a small myelotomy. A small specimen was taken, and antituberculosi s treatment was given after surgery. Results. Excellent clinical outco me was obtained with a combination of medical and surgical management. Conclusion. The treatment of intramedullary abscess consists of surgi cal evacuation of the pus. Appropriate treatment offers a favorable pr ognosis even in cases with severe deficits.