Spinal infection

Spinal infection is a significant cause of morbidity. Despite advances in a ntibiotic treatment regimens, the incidence is not decreasing due at least in part to an increase in 'at-risk' populations, namely the elderly and the immunocompromised. Prompt diagnosis is greatly facilitated by early and ap propriate imaging techniques together with microbiological assessment follo wing culture from blood, needle aspirate and biopsy material. This article gives an overview of imaging of spinal injection with an emphasis on MR ima ging, which has greatly contributed to early diagnosis, thus allowing imple mentation of timely appropriate treatment.