| Cervical Intramedullary Abscess: Surgical Removal in Old Age Patient with Poor Medical Condition |
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Jung Jae Kim1 , Jeong Hae Kie3 , Young Mok Park2 , Ho Yeol Zhang2 |
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1Department of Neurosurgery, Spine and Spinal Cord Institute, Gangnam Severance Spine Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul,
2Department of Neurosurgery, and 3Pathology, National Health Insurance Corporation Ilsan Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Goyang, Korea |
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| Abstract |
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A 64-year-old man presented with progressive weakness of low extremities and paresthesia on body and all extremities. Magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI) examination revealed intramedullary enhancing mass lesion on C2 vertebra level. We thought that the lesion might be tumor such
as ependymoma. The patient had several past histories such as diabetes mellitus (DM), asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
The patient’s medical conditions were poor and the surgical risk was relatively high. However neurologic conditions of the patient worsened as
time passed. The surgery was performed and the lesion was removed widely. Interestingly the final diagnosis was not tumor but abscess. The
primary cervical intramedullary abscess was rare. The Postoperative morbidity such as pneumonia was very severe and tracheostomy was performed
at 10 days after surgery. After intensive care, patient’s conditions improved. The antibiotics were administered for 6 weaks. In old age patient with
poor medical conditions, if neurologic symptoms are getting worse and worse, surgical treatment can be certain treatment even if there are some
risks of complications. |
| Key Words:
Intramedullary abscessㆍCervical spinal cordㆍOld age |
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