Compressive myelopathy due to aspergillus infection of the spine

J Korean Neurol Assoc > Volume 15(1); 1997 > Article

Journal of the Korean Neurological Association 1997;15(1): 228-232.

척추의 아스퍼질루스 감염에 의한 압박성 척수병증

최선아, 백종삼, 허지회, 백소야, 김태승, 이윤태

연세대학교 의대 신경과. 병리학과. 정형외과

Compressive myelopathy due to aspergillus infection of the spine

Sun Ah Choi, M.D., Jong Sam Baik, M.D., Ji Hoe Heo, M.D., So Ya Paik, M.D., Tae Sung Kim, M.D., Yun Tae Lee, M.D.

Department of Neurology, Pathology, Orthopedics, Yonsei University College of Medicine

Abstract

Asperigillous osteomyelitis of the spine has quite rarely been reported. We present a 57-year-old man with old pulmonary tuberculosis who developed cough, sputum and back pain followed by paraplegia. Magnetic resonance imaging of the thoracic spine showed the destruction of the vertebral body through the level of T4-5 and epidural abscess. Decompressive surgery was carried out under the presumptive diagnosis of tuberculous spondylitis. However, the pathologic findings were aspergillous infection showing acute angle hyphae. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of aspergillous spondylitis producing compressive myelopathy in Korea.