Spinal Cord Abscess
Alternate Names : Abscess - Spinal Cord
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Spinal Cord Abscess Diagnosis & Tests
An examination often shows localized tenderness over the spine. A neurologic examination may indicate spinal cord compression, with involvement of the lower body (paraplegia) or the entire trunk, arms, and legs (quadriplegia). The extent of neurologic losses corresponds with the location of the lesion on the spine and with the amount of spinal cord compression.
- A CSF examination may be normal or may contain a few white blood cells and slightly elevated protein levels.
- A CT scan or MRI confirm epidural abscess. Dye may be necessary for CT scan to show a clear picture of the abscess.
- A culture of material obtained by surgical drainage of the abscess will determine the specific microorganism(s) responsible for the infection.
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