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Atypical mycobacterial spondylitis as a challenging differential diagnosis to metastatic disease of the spine: a case report

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Abstract

Disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection is rarely seen in patients without acquired immune deficiency syndrome. A disseminated MAC infection presenting with symptoms that mimic tumor metastasis had not previously been reported. Few disseminated MAC infections have been reported, and all image patterns in these cases indicated destructive lesions. We present a case involving a tumor-like disseminated MAC infection with spondylitis in a 68-year-old man whose symptoms started with severe lower back pain and fever. Treatment for malignancy was performed initially but soon stopped after tissue proving MAC infection. Symptoms then improved dramatically after a four-drug combined anti-nontuberculous mycobacteria treatment.

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The authors declared that there is no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Veterans General Hospital-Taipei, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, 201, Section 2, Shih-Pai Road, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Chien-Shun Wang, Shang-Wen Feng, Jung-Kuang Yu, Ming-Chau Chang, Shih-Tien Wang & Chien-Lin Liu

  2. Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Ming-Chau Chang

  3. Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei Verteran General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Ling-Ju Huang

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  1. Chien-Shun Wang
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Correspondence to Jung-Kuang Yu.

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Wang, CS., Feng, SW., Huang, LJ. et al. Atypical mycobacterial spondylitis as a challenging differential diagnosis to metastatic disease of the spine: a case report. Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol 23 (Suppl 2), 135–139 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00590-012-1068-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00590-012-1068-y

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