Spontaneous intramedullary abscesses caused by Streptococcus anginosus: two case reports and review of the literature
Abstract Background Intramedullary abscesses are rare infections of the spinal cord. Intramedullary abscesses often have a complex presentation, making a high index of suspicion essential for prompt diagnosis and management. Case presentation We present two cases of intramedullary abscesses referred...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-02-01
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| Series: | BMC Infectious Diseases |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-022-07099-7 |
| _version_ | 1818977164993757184 |
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| author | Christian D. Cerecedo-Lopez Joshua D. Bernstock Adam A. Dmytriw Jason A. Chen Joshua I. Chalif Saksham Gupta Joseph Driver Kevin Huang Susan E. Stanley Jonathan Z. Li John Chi Yi Lu |
| author_facet | Christian D. Cerecedo-Lopez Joshua D. Bernstock Adam A. Dmytriw Jason A. Chen Joshua I. Chalif Saksham Gupta Joseph Driver Kevin Huang Susan E. Stanley Jonathan Z. Li John Chi Yi Lu |
| author_sort | Christian D. Cerecedo-Lopez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Intramedullary abscesses are rare infections of the spinal cord. Intramedullary abscesses often have a complex presentation, making a high index of suspicion essential for prompt diagnosis and management. Case presentation We present two cases of intramedullary abscesses referred to and ultimately managed at our institution. Delayed diagnosis occurred in both instances due to the rarity of intramedullary abscesses and their propensity to mimic other pathologies. For both patients, prompt surgical management and the rapid institution of broad-spectrum antibiotics were critical in preventing further neurological decline. Conclusions Although rare, it is critical to consider intramedullary abscesses on the differential for any MRI lesions that are hyperintense on T2 and peripherally enhancing on T1 post-contrast sequences, as even short delays in treatment can lead to severe neurological damage. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T16:23:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9e7bcb1d09cd45f39acac85e01e284d4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2334 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T16:23:24Z |
| publishDate | 2022-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Infectious Diseases |
| spelling | doaj.art-9e7bcb1d09cd45f39acac85e01e284d42022-12-21T19:33:33ZengBMCBMC Infectious Diseases1471-23342022-02-012211810.1186/s12879-022-07099-7Spontaneous intramedullary abscesses caused by Streptococcus anginosus: two case reports and review of the literatureChristian D. Cerecedo-Lopez0Joshua D. Bernstock1Adam A. Dmytriw2Jason A. Chen3Joshua I. Chalif4Saksham Gupta5Joseph Driver6Kevin Huang7Susan E. Stanley8Jonathan Z. Li9John Chi10Yi Lu11Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolDepartment of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolDepartment of Neuroradiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolDepartment of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolDepartment of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolDepartment of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolDepartment of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolDepartment of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolDepartment of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolDepartment of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolDepartment of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolDepartment of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolAbstract Background Intramedullary abscesses are rare infections of the spinal cord. Intramedullary abscesses often have a complex presentation, making a high index of suspicion essential for prompt diagnosis and management. Case presentation We present two cases of intramedullary abscesses referred to and ultimately managed at our institution. Delayed diagnosis occurred in both instances due to the rarity of intramedullary abscesses and their propensity to mimic other pathologies. For both patients, prompt surgical management and the rapid institution of broad-spectrum antibiotics were critical in preventing further neurological decline. Conclusions Although rare, it is critical to consider intramedullary abscesses on the differential for any MRI lesions that are hyperintense on T2 and peripherally enhancing on T1 post-contrast sequences, as even short delays in treatment can lead to severe neurological damage.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-022-07099-7IntramedullaryAbscessSpine, spinal cord injuryMyelopathyStreptococcus anginosus |
| spellingShingle | Christian D. Cerecedo-Lopez Joshua D. Bernstock Adam A. Dmytriw Jason A. Chen Joshua I. Chalif Saksham Gupta Joseph Driver Kevin Huang Susan E. Stanley Jonathan Z. Li John Chi Yi Lu Spontaneous intramedullary abscesses caused by Streptococcus anginosus: two case reports and review of the literature BMC Infectious Diseases Intramedullary Abscess Spine, spinal cord injury Myelopathy Streptococcus anginosus |
| title | Spontaneous intramedullary abscesses caused by Streptococcus anginosus: two case reports and review of the literature |
| title_full | Spontaneous intramedullary abscesses caused by Streptococcus anginosus: two case reports and review of the literature |
| title_fullStr | Spontaneous intramedullary abscesses caused by Streptococcus anginosus: two case reports and review of the literature |
| title_full_unstemmed | Spontaneous intramedullary abscesses caused by Streptococcus anginosus: two case reports and review of the literature |
| title_short | Spontaneous intramedullary abscesses caused by Streptococcus anginosus: two case reports and review of the literature |
| title_sort | spontaneous intramedullary abscesses caused by streptococcus anginosus two case reports and review of the literature |
| topic | Intramedullary Abscess Spine, spinal cord injury Myelopathy Streptococcus anginosus |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-022-07099-7 |
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