Blastomycosis of the spine with paraplegia
Osmond, J.D.; Schweitzer, G.; Dunbar, J.M.; Villet, W.
South African Medical Journal 45(16): 431-434
1971
ISSN/ISBN: 0256-9574 PMID: 5087774 Document Number: 40734
A 39-yr-old Zulu man with paraplegia was found to have a paravertebral abscess with destruction of part of the 10th thoracic vertebra. Biopsies failed to reveal the causal organism but tuberculosis was suspected and anti-tubercular therapy given, without success. Anterolateral decompression was performed and revealed extensive destruction of the affected vertebrae and discs and histology of the removed tissue revealed Blastomyces dermatitidis. Amphotericin B was then given intravenously but the patient died. At autopsy, B. dermatitidis was seen in the granular tissue replacing the vertebral bodies, lungs and kidneys. The fungus was not obtained in culture.