J Korean Soc Radiol.  2013 Mar;68(3):257-260. 10.3348/jksr.2013.68.3.257.

MRI Findings of Brucellar Spondylitis: A Case Report

• Kim JW
• Kim MS
• Kim YJ

• KMID: 1748461
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/jksr.2013.68.3.257

Abstract

Brucellosis is a systemic infectious disease, and musculoskeletal involvement is a frequent complication. Particularly, spondylitis is a common involvement. However, early diagnosis of brucellar spondylitis is often difficult due to non-specific clinical symptoms and long latent period. Especially in Korea, where tuberculosis is an endemic disease, differentiation between tuberculous and brucellar spondylitis is clinically and radiologically more challenging. A 59-year-old male cattle farmer, who presented with non-specific back pain, had spondylitis on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and serologic test finally confirmed brucellar spondylitis. Therefore, we report a case of a rather rare disease in Korea, brucellar spondylitis with a review of MRI findings.

MeSH Terms

Animals
Back Pain
Brucellosis
Cattle
Communicable Diseases
Early Diagnosis
Endemic Diseases
Humans
Korea
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Rare Diseases
Serologic Tests
Spondylitis
Tuberculosis

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Images of the lumbar spine from an MRI show brucellar spondylitis in a 59-year-old cattle farmer. A, B. Sagittal T1 (A) and T2 (B) weighted images show low and high signal intensity in L2 and L3 vertebral bodies, respectively, and minimal end-plate involvement (arrow) is seen in the anterior portion of L2 and L3 vertebral bodies. C, D. Irregular heterogeneous enhancement (arrow) of paraspinal soft tissue is seen in sagittal (C) and axial (D) contrast enhanced T1-weighted image.

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