Brucellosis Spondylodiscitis: A case report

Abstract

Brucellosis is an endemic disease in Iran that is transmitted from animal to human. The clinical manifestations of brucellosis are nonspecific and its complications involve bones and joints. Brucellosis osteomyelitis can mimic the manifestations of neoplasms; therefore, it cannot readily be diagnosed in some cases. Under such circumstances, high incidence can be a helpful factor. We reported a 49-year-old man patient who presented with chronic musculoskeletal pain in the lower back. Initially, he was treated for osteoarthritis due to several negative serological tests for brucellosis. He was referred to a specialized clinic with no recovery achievement after 5 months treatment. The musculoskeletal pain together with the patient’s occupation (animal husbandry), was resulted in a high clinical suspicion of brucellosis. Consequently, the patient underwent another serological test and Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). He was diagnosed with brucellosis-induced spondylodiscitis by positive serology result and bone involvement on MRI. Regular treatment was then started, which led to clinical and radiological improvement at the end. With regard to chronic symptoms of the disease and despite the negative results of serological tests, it is recommended that radiological diagnostic methods such as MRI should be adopted in cases where there is a clinical suspicion of brucellosis.