Echographic evaluation of tubercular abscesses in lumbar spondylitis

Thirty-two patients with tubercular lumbar spondylodiskitis were studied by using traditional x-rays and echography. Computed tomography (CT) scans were also employed in six patients. Ultrasound scans detected tubercular abscesses in 17 cases, whereas traditional x-rays diagnosed abscesses in only 10. Echographic patterns are reported depending on the site and contents. Besides assessing the abscess, it was possible to diagnose a case complicated with hydronephrosis due to compression of the ureter. Analysis of the results obtained indicates that the association of traditional x-rays with echography is sufficient to obtain, in most cases, complete and exact diagnoses and that using CT scans can be limited to doubtful cases or those complicated by paraplegia.