Intramedullary spinal cord abscess

ABSTRACT

Intramedullary tubercular abscess is a very rare condition, however it needs to be considered in the differential diagnosis of neurological deterioration in a patient of tuberculosis as timely intervention often gives good neurological recovery. The authors report a rare case of intramedullary tuberculous abscess of dorsal spinal cord in a 35-year-old female patient who presented with paraplegia and bladder involvement. Magnetic resonance imaging scans revealed D6-D10 arachnoiditis with intramedullary lesion with extradural compression locally. A dorsal laminectomy with decompression of intramedullary abscess with biopsy of extradural granulation tissue was carried out and patient was started on antituberculous therapy and gradually improved neurologically postoperatively. Intrameduallry tuberculous abscess is a rare condition and surgical intervention is helpful even in the presence of profound neurological deficits