Epidural abscess CT: Difference between revisions

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{{Epidural abscess}}
{{Epidural abscess}}
{{CMG}}; {{AE}} {{JS}}
{{CMG}} {{AE}} {{JS}}; {{AG}}


==Overview==
==Overview==
An epidural abscess is a rare [[suppurative]] [[infection]] of the [[central nervous system]], a collection of [[pus]] localised in the [[epidural space]] lying outside the [[dura mater]], which accounts for less than 2% of focal [[CNS]] infections. <ref>{{Cite book  | last1 = Longo | first1 = Dan L. (Dan Louis) | title = Harrison's principles of internal medici | date = 2012 | publisher = McGraw-Hill | location = New York | isbn = 978-0-07-174889-6 | pages =  }}</ref> It may occur in two different places: [[intracranial space|intracranially]] or in the [[spinal canal]].  Because the initial [[symptoms]] and clinical characteristics are not always identical, and are similar to the ones in other diseases, along with the fact that they are both rare conditions, the final [[diagnosis]] might be delayed in time. This late [[diagnosis]] comes at great cost to the patient, since it is usually accompanied by a bad [[prognosis]] and severe [[complications]] with a potential fatal outcome. The [[diagnosis]] of [[epidural abscess]] should be first suspected from the clinical findings, being posteriorly supported by laboratory tests and imaging studies, however it can only be confirmed after [[surgical]] drainage and proper study of the collected material. According to the location of the collection, the [[abscess]] may have different origins, different organisms involved, [[symptoms]],  evolutions, [[complications]] and therapeutical techniques. <ref name="DannerHartman1987">{{cite journal|last1=Danner|first1=R. L.|last2=Hartman|first2=B. J.|title=Update of Spinal Epidural Abscess: 35 Cases and Review of the Literature|journal=Clinical Infectious Diseases|volume=9|issue=2|year=1987|pages=265–274|issn=1058-4838|doi=10.1093/clinids/9.2.265}}</ref><ref name="Darouiche2006">{{cite journal|last1=Darouiche|first1=Rabih O.|title=Spinal Epidural Abscess|journal=New England Journal of Medicine|volume=355|issue=19|year=2006|pages=2012–2020|issn=0028-4793|doi=10.1056/NEJMra055111}}</ref>


==CT Scan==
 
Despite being an important and valuable imaging study and considered the imaging study of choice until very recently, the [[CT scan]] is now secondary, compared to the [[MRI]]. It's a non-invasive procedure, which allows for study of intracranial and [[spinal abscess|spinal]] [[abscesses]], however its [[sensitivity]] is limited by signal artifacts caused by the [[bone]] <ref>{{Cite book  | last1 = Longo | first1 = Dan L. (Dan Louis) | title = Harrison's principles of internal medici | date = 2012 | publisher = McGraw-Hill | location = New York | isbn = 978-0-07-174889-6 | pages =  }}</ref>
==Computed tomography==
Computed tomography may be used as a secondary method of imaging in the diagnosis of epidural abscess. If [[MRI]] is not available, [[CT scan]] may serve as the primary imaging technique.  
 
===Intracranial Epidural Abscess===
===Intracranial Epidural Abscess===
In this location the [[CT scan]] may be used, in case an [[MRI]] isn't available, or to perform an image study of the [[skull|bone]]. The appearance of an [[epidural abscess]] on a [[CT scan]] is similar to crescent-shaped hypodense extraaxial lesion or a lens. <ref>{{Cite book  | last1 = Longo | first1 = Dan L. (Dan Louis) | title = Harrison's principles of internal medici | date = 2012 | publisher = McGraw-Hill | location = New York | isbn = 978-0-07-174889-6 | pages =  }}</ref>
On CT scan, the appearance of an intracranial epidural abscess resembles a crescent-shaped hypodense extraaxial lesion or a lens.<ref>{{Cite book  | last1 = Longo | first1 = Dan L. (Dan Louis) | title = Harrison's principles of internal medici | date = 2012 | publisher = McGraw-Hill | location = New York | isbn = 978-0-07-174889-6 | pages =  }}</ref>


===Spinal Epidural Abscess===
===Spinal Epidural Abscess===
In this location the [[CT scan]] may be used if an [[MRI]] isn't available. It is helpful to produce high-resolution axial tomograms of the [[spine]], being able to detect a possible encroachment of the [[spinal canal]], as well as air in the [[pus]] collection. Due to its insufficient capacity to differentiate densities of soft tissues, particularly in the [[cervical vertebrae|cervical region]], it isn't always reliable to delineate the [[spinal cord]], nor contained lesions nor the [[epidural space]]. <ref name="Grewal2006">{{cite journal|last1=Grewal|first1=S.|title=Epidural abscesses|journal=British Journal of Anaesthesia|volume=96|issue=3|year=2006|pages=292–302|issn=0007-0912|doi=10.1093/bja/ael006}}</ref> It may be used to guide [[percutaneous]] drainage, alternatively to [[surgical]] drainage. <ref name="pmid12182793">{{cite journal| author=Lyu RK, Chen CJ, Tang LM, Chen ST| title=Spinal epidural abscess successfully treated with percutaneous, computed tomography-guided, needle aspiration and parenteral antibiotic therapy: case report and review of the literature. | journal=Neurosurgery | year= 2002 | volume= 51 | issue= 2 | pages= 509-12; discussion 512 | pmid=12182793 | doi= | pmc= | url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/elink.fcgi?dbfrom=pubmed&tool=sumsearch.org/cite&retmode=ref&cmd=prlinks&id=12182793  }} </ref>
On CT scan, the appearance of a spinal epidural abscess is difficult to discern. While helpful to produce high-resolution axial tomograms of the [[spine]], being able to detect a possible encroachment of the [[spinal canal]] or air in the [[pus]] collection is difficult due to CT scan's insufficient capacity to differentiate densities of soft tissues.<ref name="Grewal2006">{{cite journal|last1=Grewal|first1=S.|title=Epidural abscesses|journal=British Journal of Anaesthesia|volume=96|issue=3|year=2006|pages=292–302|issn=0007-0912|doi=10.1093/bja/ael006}}</ref> It may be used to guide [[percutaneous]] drainage, alternatively to [[surgical]] drainage.<ref name="pmid12182793">{{cite journal| author=Lyu RK, Chen CJ, Tang LM, Chen ST| title=Spinal epidural abscess successfully treated with percutaneous, computed tomography-guided, needle aspiration and parenteral antibiotic therapy: case report and review of the literature. | journal=Neurosurgery | year= 2002 | volume= 51 | issue= 2 | pages= 509-12; discussion 512 | pmid=12182793 | doi= | pmc= | url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/elink.fcgi?dbfrom=pubmed&tool=sumsearch.org/cite&retmode=ref&cmd=prlinks&id=12182793  }} </ref>




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[[Category:Wikinfect]]
[[Category:Infectious disease]]
[[Category:Infectious disease]]
[[Category:Disease]]
[[Category:Disease]]
[[Category:Neurology]]
[[Category:Neurology]]
[[Category:Primary care]]
[[Category:Primary care]]

Revision as of 18:53, 16 November 2015

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: João André Alves Silva, M.D. [2]; Anthony Gallo, B.S. [3]

Overview

Computed tomography

Computed tomography may be used as a secondary method of imaging in the diagnosis of epidural abscess. If MRI is not available, CT scan may serve as the primary imaging technique.

Intracranial Epidural Abscess

On CT scan, the appearance of an intracranial epidural abscess resembles a crescent-shaped hypodense extraaxial lesion or a lens.[1]

Spinal Epidural Abscess

On CT scan, the appearance of a spinal epidural abscess is difficult to discern. While helpful to produce high-resolution axial tomograms of the spine, being able to detect a possible encroachment of the spinal canal or air in the pus collection is difficult due to CT scan's insufficient capacity to differentiate densities of soft tissues.[2] It may be used to guide percutaneous drainage, alternatively to surgical drainage.[3]


Spinal epidural abscess located anterolaterally at the level of C2-C3

Image courtesy of Radiopaedia [4]

References

  1. Longo, Dan L. (Dan Louis) (2012). Harrison's principles of internal medici. New York: McGraw-Hill. ISBN 978-0-07-174889-6.
  2. Grewal, S. (2006). "Epidural abscesses". British Journal of Anaesthesia. 96 (3): 292–302. doi:10.1093/bja/ael006. ISSN 0007-0912.
  3. Lyu RK, Chen CJ, Tang LM, Chen ST (2002). "Spinal epidural abscess successfully treated with percutaneous, computed tomography-guided, needle aspiration and parenteral antibiotic therapy: case report and review of the literature". Neurosurgery. 51 (2): 509–12, discussion 512. PMID 12182793.