Intramedullary abscess of the spinal cord in the setting of patent foramen ovale

Sergei Terterov, Alexander Taghva, Alexander A. Khalessi, Paul E. Kim, Charles Liu

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Intramedullary abscess of the spinal cord is a rare entity, especially in the setting of an intracardiac shunt, which, to our knowledge, has not been described in the literature. Here we present a case of an intramedullary spinal cord abscess in a patient with a patent foramen ovale. METHODS: The article includes a chart review and description of a clinical case presentation. RESULTS: A 59-year-old man was admitted with rapidly progressive quadriparesis. Magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical spine demonstrated a large intramedullary mass extending from the level of C3 to C7. The patient was taken to the operating room for biopsy and surgical evacuation of the mass. Intraoperative pathology was consistent with abscess, and subsequent cultures grew Streptococcus viridans. On further workup, the patient was found to have a patent foramen ovale with right-to-left flow. Postoperatively, the strength improved significantly in all extremities with residual weakness. CONCLUSION: This is the first published case of an intramedullary spinal cord abscess in the setting of an intracardiac right-to-left shunt. Although intramedullary spinal cord abscess is rare, there are certain predisposing conditions that increase the risk of its occurrence.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)361.e11-361.e14
JournalWorld neurosurgery
Volume76
Issue number3-4
DOIs
StatePublished - 2011

Keywords

  • Intramedullary spinal cord abscess
  • Patent foramen ovale
  • Spinal abscess

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Clinical Neurology

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