The Never Ending Story-What Are the Differentiable Magnetic Resonance Imaging Characteristics Between Pyogenic and Mycobacterial Thoracolumbar Infections?

ABSTRACT: Background/Objectives: This study aimed to determine if MRI features can distinguish between spinal infections caused by pyogenic bacteria and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Methods: Patients underwent an MRI of the thoracolumbar spine with and without contrast. Three blinded observers assessed the images, using statistical tests for analysis. Results: Demographic characteristics and symptom duration were similar between patients with tuberculous and pyogenic spinal infections. In 36 cases of pyogenic infections, the MRI showed weakly delineated paravertebral tissue enhancement (76%), a hyperintense signal in the T2 TIRM sequences (89%), and homogeneous vertebral body enhancement (89%). In 32 cases of Mycobacterium infections, the MRI revealed well-delineated paravertebra

SUBMITTER: Wasko M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11766180 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature