ABSTRACT

MRI can be used in differentiating the cases with tuberculous and brucellar cases by using musculoskeletal findings which are seen together with spondylodiscitis. Brucellosis and tuberculosis must be placed in differential diagnosis of patients with musculoskeletal findings in endemic regions.

Lumbar involvement was present in all of the brucellar, and majority of the tuberculous cases. Multifocal involvement, paravertebral involvement and bone erosion was higher in tuberculous cases.

13 patients with brucellar and 6 patients with tuberculous spondylodiscitis were included in the study. Patients were diagnosed based on clinical findings, laboratory tests and MRI findings. Vertebral corpus, disc, paravertebral soft tissues and epidural distances were evaluated in cases.

The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and differences of patients with brucellar and tuberculous spondylodiscitis.