Background:
A definitive diagnosis of spinal tuberculosis (TB) remains challenging. The "gold standard" is to obtain histopathological confirmation of the lesion. This analysis highlights how to avoid missing the diagnosis of an extramedullary myeloid sarcoma (EMS) versus TB.
Case description:
A 25-year-old male presented with paraparesis. Although this was first attributed to TB spondylodiscitis, a PET-CT and reevaluation of the biopsy specimen both confirmed the diagnosis of an EMS.
Conclusion:
Nontubercular spinal disease should be suspected when a patient deteriorates despite the institution of antitubercular therapy for a reasonable duration. Further, microbiological and/or pathological confirmation is warranted to direct appropriate treatment and differentiate spinal TB from other entities as, in this case, an EMS.