Abstract
Current trends in delayed diagnosis of tuberculous (TB) spine and associated factors were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 17 subjects who were admitted to our hospital between 2005 and 2009 were included in this study. Diagnosis of TB was made by PCR in 8 patients (57%). Culture for acid-fast bacteria was negative in 3 patients 8 (37%).There were 7 patients in the delayed diagnosis group, defined as patients whose diagnosis of TB spine required more than 5 months. In this group, there was no past history of TB. Mantoux test was never attempted. Of these 7 patients, 5 had been surgically treated because of misdiagnosed etiologies. Although osteoporotic compression fracture was a common misdiagnosis (n=4), three patients showed abscess formation and/or disc lesion on retrospective review of the pre-surgical diagnostic imaging studies.
