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Pneumorachis caused by metastatic gas gangrene
George R Thompson1, George E Crawford
1Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, USA. thompsong2@uthscsa.edu
Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease
|November 14, 2008
Summary
Pneumorachis, or gas in the spinal canal, is rarely seen. This case report details the first instance of pneumorachis resulting from a disseminated bacterial infection.
Area of Science:
- Medical imaging
- Infectious diseases
- Neurosurgery
Background:
- Pneumorachis is typically associated with trauma or contiguous infection spread.
- Previous literature has not documented pneumorachis as a direct result of systemic infection.
Observation:
- A patient presented with sepsis caused by multiple enteric organisms.
- Computed tomographic imaging revealed the presence of gas within the spinal canal.
Findings:
- This represents the first documented case of pneumorachis originating from a disseminated infection.
- The gas in the spinal canal was attributed to the systemic sepsis.
Implications:
- Disseminated infections should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pneumorachis.
- This finding may broaden the understanding of gas spread in infectious processes.
- Further investigation into the mechanisms of infection-related pneumorachis is warranted.
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