Definition
Definition
The occurrence of theintramedullary spinal abscess (in English intramedullary spinal abscess) which is an abscess inside the spinal cord, is explained by the right-angled path of the medullary arteries which constitute a barrier to the progression of an infectious embolism.
Symptoms
Symptoms
The clinical symptoms of an intramedullary spinal abscess are:
- A radiculalgia inaugural.
- The motor disorders.
- DeS sensory disorders.
Pathophysiology
The mechanism of occurrence of intramedullary spinal abscess is probably the following:
- First, direct inoculation, due to trauma, or the proximity of a skin infection, is suspected.
- A superinfection from a tumor, or of a venous embolism as well as at the level of the pelvis is also likely to explain the occurrence of intramedullary spinal abscess.
- Most often this type of pathology occurs mainly at the level of the dorsal vertebrae in 70% of cases.
- The abscess develops mainly in the cavities syringomyelic.
Epidemiology
L'intramedullary spinal abscess mainly concerns men before the age of 40, especially in an infectious context (AIDS), or in an individual addict ou diabetic.
Medical exam
Additional examination
- Blood samples reveal a inflammation (inflammatory syndrome) inconstant.
- The culture of cerebrospinal fluid is generally normal.
- MRI allows you to recognize the seat inside the spinal cord which is either normal in size or slightly enlarged, due to lesions and edemaThe T2 signal is positive. We also observe an enhancement at the periphery of the abscess after injection.