Open AccessSacral Tuberculosis in the Elderly
Author(s) -
Rodrigo Cavalcante,
Leonardo Giacomini,
Andrei Fernandes Joaquim,
Halissom Yoshinari,
Mateus Dal Fabbro,
Hélder Tedeschi
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
jornal brasileiro de neurocirurgia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2446-6786
pISSN - 0103-5118
DOI - 10.22290/jbnc.v24i4.1463
Subject(s) - medicine , tuberculosis , differential diagnosis , radiological weapon , back pain , lesion , surgery , radiology , mycobacterium tuberculosis , computed tomography , extrapulmonary tuberculosis , pathology , alternative medicine
Vertebral Tuberculosis represents about 50% of all osseous compromised in tuberculosis. However, sacral tuberculosis is rare even in developing countries. Objective: Describe the importance of the diagnosis of vertebral tuberculosis in the sacral region. Methods: Case report of a 67 year-old woman who presented with low back pain for one year. Results: Initial radiological evaluation was compatible with a lytic lesion at the first sacral (S1) vertebrae on the computed tomography scan. Open surgical biopsy was performed, but it was inconclusive. A second procedure was performed and Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacilli werevisualized on microbiological purulent fluid analysis. A complete improvement of pain was obtained after introduction of antituberculousdrugs. Conclusion: Although rare, sacral tuberculosis should be considered as a differential diagnosis of low back pain in endemic regions.