Cervical and Oropharyngeal Lymphogranuloma Venereum: Case Report and Literature Review.

Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) is a sexually transmitted infection caused by invasive serovars of Chlamydia trachomatis. There have been only a few case reports of oropharyngeal C. trachomatis infection complicated with cervical LGV. We report a case of a HIV-positive male patient with cervical LGV that presented a poor evolution despite appropriate treatment.

Medically treated paravertebral Brucella abscess presenting with acute torticollis: case report.

BACKGROUND: Atlantoaxial subluxation secondary to a paravertebral (retropharyngeal) abscess is a well known but rare event in children. CASE DESCRIPTION: The authors describe the clinical and radiologic findings of a case of 6-year-old child who presented with acute torticollis (duration, 4 days). Type 2 atlantoaxial rotatory fixation and upper cervical paravertebral (retropharyngeal) abscess were diagnosed on radiologic examination. Laboratory test results showed positive agglutination titer for Brucella melitensis, in the rate of 1/640 dilution. This is the first reported case of Brucella-related atlantoaxial subluxation in a child in the pediatric literature. The patient was treated successfully with anti-inflammatory drugs, Brucella-specific antibiotic regimen, and Philadelphia collar application. Possibly, effusion of the atlantoaxial joint, due to Brucella infection, led to the laxity of the ligaments and contributed to subluxation. CONCLUSIONS: Brucella abscess should be kept in mind for the differential diagnosis of retropharyngeal mass, and the torticollis may be the only presenting sign. The authors recommend a trial of medical treatment with adequate dosages for a reasonable length of time and immobilization before considering surgical intervention for the spinal paravertebral Brucella abscess and related atlantoaxial subluxation.

Unusual presentations of craniovertebral junction tuberculosis: a report of 2 cases and literature review.

BACKGROUND: CVJ tuberculosis is a described entity requiring challenging ways of management. Severe neck pain, causing restricted neck movements and torticollis, is a characteristic presentation of neurologically asymptomatic suboccipital Pott's disease. CASE DESCRIPTION: Two patients with unusual CVJ tuberculosis form the basis for the present communication. The first patient presented with tubercular otitis media, causing progressive erosion of the petrous part of temporal bone, and destruction of the occipital condyle, along with the lateral mass of atlas, leading to CVJ instability. This is a first report of such a presentation, according to our knowledge. Detailed bony architectural destruction demonstrable on CT scan has been described. The second patient, with CVJ tuberculosis, presented with skull base syndrome and with multiple cranial nerve palsies. Both patients were managed without surgical intervention and showed clinical and radiological recovery. CONCLUSION: In such patients with unusual clinical presentations, histopathologic examination is necessary to arrive at a correct diagnosis. The management of patients with tubercular involvement of CVJ remains controversial. In the present communication, both the patients were managed successfully with full dose of antitubercular drugs and immobilization.

Pyogenic osteomyelitis of the atlas: a case report.

STUDY DESIGN: Case report. OBJECTIVE: To document our experience with conservative treatment of vertebral osteomyelitis of the atlas. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Although several investigators have reported osteomyelitis in the upper cervical region, most of them included the odontoid process. This is a very rare case of successful conservative treatment of osteomyelitis of the atlas. METHODS: A 37-year-old man with pyogenic osteomyelitis caused by Streptococcus was treated conservatively. After needle biopsy, the patient underwent a 3-month antibiotic course administrated both intravenously and orally with a cervical orthosis for 4 months. RESULTS: The patient was pain free with no neurologic deficit at the 24-month follow-up, and CT scan showed remodeling of the lesion of the atlas. CONCLUSION: Conservative treatment of pyogenic osteomyelitis of the atlas with antibiotics and immobilization was shown to be sufficient in this case.

Craniovertebral tuberculosis: a retrospective review of 13 cases managed conservatively.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review of 13 cases with craniovertebral tuberculosis treated conservatively. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the results of conservative treatment of craniovertebral tuberculosis and compare with the literature. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Craniovertebral tuberculosis is a rare entity even in endemic countries, and there is no consensus in the literature regarding conservative or surgical management for the same. Reports range from radical surgery to totally conservative approach. We report our experience in treating such patients conservatively. METHODS: A retrospective review of 13 patients diagnosed with craniovertebral tuberculosis was performed. All patients were treated conservatively with cervical traction for initial 3 months followed by a brace along with multidrug antitubercular drugs for 18 months. RESULTS: All patients responded favorably to conservative treatment. Follow-up averaged 43 months (range, 16-65 months). No patient deteriorated neurologically. All patients had symptomatic improvement. Failure to reduce atlantoaxial dislocation/lateral subluxation of the dens completely was seen in 2 cases. CONCLUSIONS: We think that all patients with craniovertebral junction tuberculosis can be managed adequately using conservative means regardless of the extent of bony destruction with a good patient outcome. Surgery should be reserved for only a selective few where diagnosis is in doubt and there is initial severe or progressive neural deficit with/without respiratory distress in presence of documented mechanical compression and documented dynamic instability following conservative treatment.

Severe Fusobacteria infections (Lemierre syndrome) in two boys.

UNLABELLED: Abscess formation is a rare cause of febrile illness in childhood but always has to be considered in such clinical presentations. Belonging to the resident flora of the oropharyngeal region, Fusobacteria are known to cause local infections; from here they may extend to other sites via the bloodstream or are aspirated into the lung (Lemierre disease). We report on two boys with Lemierre disease due to infection by Fusobacteria in monoculture causing two different clinical phenotypes. Case 1 presented with a large subphrenic abscess and pneumonic infiltration of the right middle lobe. Primary focus of infection was periodontal disease. Case 2 presented with a life-threatening septicaemia due to a retropharyngeal abscess and perforated otitis media followed by osteomyelitis of the atlas and thrombosis of the left sigmoid sinus and internal jugular vein. CONCLUSION: Fusobacteria should be considered in any abscess formation in children. A thorough examination of the oropharyngeal region as a possible site of primary manifestation is mandatory.