Tophaceous gout of the lumbar spine mimicking infectious spondylodiscitis and epidural abscess: MR imaging findings

J Clin Neurosci. 2005 Jan;12(1):44-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2004.03.020.

Abstract

We report a case of surgically proven tophaceous gout of the lumbar spine at the L5-S1 level that mimicked infectious spondylodiscitis and epidural abscess on magnetic resonance (MR) images in a 65-year-old woman. The spinal tophi were hypointense on T1-weighted images; focally and strongly hyperintense on T2-weighted images; and heterogeneously, marginally enhancing on contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images. The aim of this report is to emphasize the importance of considering this disease entity in the differential diagnosis of an epidural mass in a patient with chronic back pain.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Discitis / diagnosis*
  • Discitis / pathology
  • Epidural Abscess / diagnosis*
  • Epidural Abscess / pathology
  • Female
  • Gout / diagnosis*
  • Gout / pathology
  • Gout / surgery
  • Humans
  • Low Back Pain / etiology
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Neurosurgical Procedures
  • Radiculopathy / etiology
  • Spinal Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Spinal Diseases / pathology
  • Spinal Diseases / surgery