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Spinal Infections

  • Chapter
Spinal Imaging

Part of the book series: Medical Radiology ((Med Radiol Diagn Imaging))

Abstract

Spinal infection is a significant cause of morbidity. Despite advances in antibiotic treatment regimens, the incidence is not decreasing. Several factors can make people more vulnerable to spinal infections, including immunodeficiency secondary to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection or intravenous drug abuse, old age, chronically debilitated individuals, the widespread use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, the use of corticosteroids and immunosuppressive drugs and parenteral alimentation. Clinical symptoms most often include back pain, sensory motor deficits, fever, and obtundation. Fever, however, may not be prominent, and body temperature can be normal in patients with chronic infection. Mechanical compression is the most common cause of functional compromise of the spinal cord, and deterioration secondary to ischemic compromise is often seen. Magnetic resonance imaging is the method of choice and gold standard in detecting infectious spine diseases.

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  1. Neuroradiology Section, Department of Radiology, University Hospital Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria

    Majda M. Thurnher MD (Associate Professor of Radiology)

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  1. Majda M. Thurnher MD
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  1. Department of Radiology, University Hospital Antwerpen, Wilrijkstraat, 10, 2650, Edegem, Belgium

    Johan W. M. Van Goethem MD, PhD , Luc van den Hauwe MD  & Paul M. Parizel MD, PhD ,  & 

  2. Department of Radiology, Algemeen Ziekenhuis Nikolaas, Moerlandstraat 1, 9100, Sint-Niklaas, Belgium

    Johan W. M. Van Goethem MD, PhD

  3. Department of Radiology, AZ KLINA, Augustijnslei 100, 2930, Brasschaat, Belgium

    Luc van den Hauwe MD

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Thurnher, M.M. (2007). Spinal Infections. In: Van Goethem, J.W.M., van den Hauwe, L., Parizel, P.M. (eds) Spinal Imaging. Medical Radiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-68483-1_22

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