Metastatic Adenocarcinoma lung  Mimicking Spinal Tuberculosis (Pott's  disease) in a female Presenting with  Spinal Cord Compression

Dr.Umang Agrawal; Dr. Sujata Tripathi

Volume : II, Issue : VII, July - 2013

Metastatic Adenocarcinoma lung Mimicking Spinal Tuberculosis (Pott's disease) in a female Presenting with Spinal Cord Compression

Dr. Umang Agrawal, Dr. Sujata Tripathi

Abstract :

Spinal tuberculosis is common in India and adenocarcinoma of the lung is also rising in incidence. Clinically, it is sometimes difficult to distinguish an infection of the spine from a metastasis. Similar presentations, with unknown primary, clinical findings and haematological investigations rarely conclude a true diagnosis. We report a case of a 45-year-old female with spinal metastasis from adenocarcinoma lung who was initially misdiagnosed as having spinal tuberculosis. The diagnosis of tumour was made on the basis of intraoperative findings and confirmed by histopathology. Biopsy is mandatory whenever in doubt or patient is not responding with provisional treatment. This case highlights the importance of awareness of the different radiographic features of spinal tuberculosis and spinal malignancy which mimic each other. In order to avoid delayed diagnosis, orthopaedic surgeon, pathologists and radiologists must be aware of features of spinal tuberculosis and spinal malignancies which may interfere with one another.