Thoracic Interdural Aspergillus Abscess Causing Rapid Fatal Spondylitis in the Presence of Posterior Mediastinitis.

Kim, Joon Seok; Kim, Sung Bum; Yi, Hyeong Joong; Chung, Won Sang

Case Report

Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society 2005;37(2): 146-149.

Joon Seok Kim, Sung Bum Kim, Hyeong Joong Yi, Won Sang Chung

¹Department of Neurosurgery, Hanyang University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. sungbumi7@hmc.hanyang.ac.kr
²Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Hanyang University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.

ABSTRACT

Most primary spinal abscesses, irrespective of pathogens and anatomical locations, have better prognosis than that of secondary abscesses with spondylitis. We report a 68-year-old man, previously undertaken pulmonary resection due to tuberculosis, presented with paraparesis. Imaging studies showed primary intraspinal abscesses at T-1 and T-3 vertebral levels, semi-invasive pulmonary Aspergillosis and inflammation of the posterior mediastinum. Operative procedure and histopathological examination revealed interdural Aspergillus abscess. Despite chemotherapy, he deteriorated progressively, and spondylitis developed at corresponding vertebrae. He eventually died 6 weeks postoperatively due to pulmonary complication. The authors intended to inform that such an extradural inflammatory lesion of Aspergillus abscess should be treated carefully.

Key Words: Aspergillosis; Interdural abscess; Posterior mediastinitis; Spondylitis