Turkish Neurosurgery
2008 , Vol 18 , Num 2
Cervical Vertebral Osteomyelitis and Epidural Abscess Caused by Candida Albicans in a Patient with Chronic Renal Failure
İzmir Atatürk Training and Research Hospital, Neurosurgery Department, İzmir/Turkey
Although rare, the diagnosis of candidal vertebral osteomyelitis of the cervical
spine should be considered in cases of quadriparesia occurring in hemodialysis
patients. This disease leads to vertebral destruction and spinal cord compression.
Candidal vertebral osteomyelitis constitutes a diagnostic problem for all
physicians. The insidious progression of disease, the non-specificity of the clinic
and laboratory findings, and the failure to recognize candida as a potential
pathogen may lead to a diagnostic delay. Early diagnosis and treatment are
fundamental points for prognosis. In this report, we present the fifth case of
cervical vertebral osteomyelitis caused by Candida species in the literature. Our
case is the second case of candidal vertebral osteomyelitis associated with
epidural abscess of the cervical spine.
Keywords :
Candida albicans, Cervical osteomyelitis, Cervical abscess, Chronic renal failure