Pott Disease - Diagnosis

Diagnosis

• blood tests

- CBC : leukocytisis – elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate >100 mm/h

• tuberculin skin test

- Tuberculin skin test (purified protein derivative ) results are positive in 84-95% of patients with Pott disease who are not infected with HIV.

• radiographs of the spine

- Radiographic changes associated with Pott disease present relatively late. The following are radiographic changes characteristic of spinal tuberculosis on plain radiography:

Lytic destruction of anterior portion of vertebral body Increased anterior wedging Collapse of vertebral body Reactive sclerosis on a progressive lytic process Enlarged psoas shadow with or without calcification

- Additional radiographic findings may include the following:

Vertebral end plates are osteoporotic. Intervertebral disks may be shrunk or destroyed. Vertebral bodies show variable degrees of destruction. Fusiform paravertebral shadows suggest abscess formation. Bone lesions may occur at more than one level.

• bone scan
• CT of the spine
• bone biopsy
• MRI