Work

Unmasking the Hidden Culprit: Diagnostic Challenges in Thoracic Spinal Osteomyelitis Following COVID-19 Infection

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Spinal osteomyelitis (SO) is a rare but serious infection of the vertebrae with occasional epidural involvement. Diagnosis is complicated by nonspecific findings that oftentimes mimic malignancy or tuberculosis, with typical methods of diagnosis such as blood culture and image-guided biopsy possessing varying levels of sensitivity. In this report, we present a rare case of SO that highlights these diagnostic difficulties. SO should be considered in a patient who presents with non-specific back pain. In such cases, non-diagnostic image-guided biopsy attempts do not rule out SO. Further investigations into additional diagnostic techniques to reduce false negatives are required to limit delays in diagnosis.

Source: Cureus

DOI: 10.7759/cureus.81816

Authors: Kole P Joachim, Alina Katsman

Institution: University of California, Los Angeles

Language: English

Topic: Infectious Diseases and Tuberculosis

Subfield: Surgery

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W4409209206