Vertebral arch tuberculosis in two human immunodeficiency virus-seropositive heroin addicts

• Published in: Archives of internal medicine (1960) Vol. 148; no. 5; p. 1125
• Main Authors: Mallolas, J, Gatell, J M, Rovira, M, Conget, J I, Trilla, A, Soriano, E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-05-1988
• Subjects: Adult; Heroin Dependence - complications; HIV Seropositivity - complications; Humans; Lumbar Vertebrae; Male; Tuberculosis, Spinal - etiology
• ISSN: 0003-9926
• DOI: 10.1001/archinte.1988.00380050129019

We studied two cases of disseminated tuberculosis with vertebral arch involvement in drug addicts seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus. The first patient developed a paraplegia while he was recovering from a meningeal tuberculosis. On the abdominal plain roentgenogram, the right transverse process of L-2 was absent, and a computed tomographic scan revealed destruction of the right vertebral arch together with a collection in the paravertebral area. The second patient had miliary tuberculosis and complained of lumbar pain. The radiologic findings were similar to those in the first case, but at the L-4 level.