Aspergillus fumigatus spondylitis in an immunocompetent patient with annular high signal around the intervertebral disks: a case report and literature review
Aspergillus fumigatus spondylitis is a rare fungal infection, primarily occurring in immunocompromised patients, although cases in immunocompetent individuals have also been reported. While Aspergillus fumigatus is commonly associated with pulmonary infections, it can also cause spondylitis. Patient...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2024.1532282/full |
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| author | Zhihao Xu Weijian Zhu Sirui Zhou Yuting Zhao Qi Xiang Yi Zhang |
| author_facet | Zhihao Xu Weijian Zhu Sirui Zhou Yuting Zhao Qi Xiang Yi Zhang |
| author_sort | Zhihao Xu |
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| description | Aspergillus fumigatus spondylitis is a rare fungal infection, primarily occurring in immunocompromised patients, although cases in immunocompetent individuals have also been reported. While Aspergillus fumigatus is commonly associated with pulmonary infections, it can also cause spondylitis. Patients typically present with back pain, limb numbness, and neurological compression symptoms. Imaging findings often show vertebral destruction, reduced disk height, and paraspinal abscesses, potentially accompanied by characteristic ring-enhancing lesions. MRI findings can help distinguish Aspergillus fumigatus spondylitis from other conditions such as tuberculous spondylitis. This case involves an immunocompetent patient with Aspergillus fumigatus spondylitis, whose non-specific clinical manifestations can easily be confused with other types of spinal infections, leading to a potential misdiagnosis. Diagnosis requires tissue biopsy and microbiological culture. Voriconazole is the first-line antifungal agent, and studies have shown that it improves patient response and survival rates. For patients with significant spinal compression or neurological symptoms, surgical intervention combined with antifungal treatment should be considered if antifungal therapy alone is ineffective. Although Aspergillus fumigatus spondylitis is rare, it can occur in immunocompetent individuals. Early diagnosis through imaging and biopsy is crucial, and a combination of surgery and antifungal therapy can help improve prognosis. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-dd04fd3f73e144a996facf686387b8db |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2296-858X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-dd04fd3f73e144a996facf686387b8db2025-08-20T03:40:28ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Medicine2296-858X2025-01-011110.3389/fmed.2024.15322821532282Aspergillus fumigatus spondylitis in an immunocompetent patient with annular high signal around the intervertebral disks: a case report and literature reviewZhihao Xu0Weijian Zhu1Sirui Zhou2Yuting Zhao3Qi Xiang4Yi Zhang5Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, ChinaDepartment of Respiratory, Li Yuan Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, ChinaDepartment of Clinical Laboratory, KadWise Co, Wuhan, ChinaDepartment of Cardiology, Xie he Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, ChinaDepartment of Orthopedics, Wuhan Tongji Aerospace City Hospital, Wuhan, ChinaAspergillus fumigatus spondylitis is a rare fungal infection, primarily occurring in immunocompromised patients, although cases in immunocompetent individuals have also been reported. While Aspergillus fumigatus is commonly associated with pulmonary infections, it can also cause spondylitis. Patients typically present with back pain, limb numbness, and neurological compression symptoms. Imaging findings often show vertebral destruction, reduced disk height, and paraspinal abscesses, potentially accompanied by characteristic ring-enhancing lesions. MRI findings can help distinguish Aspergillus fumigatus spondylitis from other conditions such as tuberculous spondylitis. This case involves an immunocompetent patient with Aspergillus fumigatus spondylitis, whose non-specific clinical manifestations can easily be confused with other types of spinal infections, leading to a potential misdiagnosis. Diagnosis requires tissue biopsy and microbiological culture. Voriconazole is the first-line antifungal agent, and studies have shown that it improves patient response and survival rates. For patients with significant spinal compression or neurological symptoms, surgical intervention combined with antifungal treatment should be considered if antifungal therapy alone is ineffective. Although Aspergillus fumigatus spondylitis is rare, it can occur in immunocompetent individuals. Early diagnosis through imaging and biopsy is crucial, and a combination of surgery and antifungal therapy can help improve prognosis.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2024.1532282/fullAspergillus fumigatusAspergillusinfectious spondylitisimmunocompetentclinical features |
| spellingShingle | Zhihao Xu Weijian Zhu Sirui Zhou Yuting Zhao Qi Xiang Yi Zhang Aspergillus fumigatus spondylitis in an immunocompetent patient with annular high signal around the intervertebral disks: a case report and literature review Frontiers in Medicine Aspergillus fumigatus Aspergillus infectious spondylitis immunocompetent clinical features |
| title | Aspergillus fumigatus spondylitis in an immunocompetent patient with annular high signal around the intervertebral disks: a case report and literature review |
| title_full | Aspergillus fumigatus spondylitis in an immunocompetent patient with annular high signal around the intervertebral disks: a case report and literature review |
| title_fullStr | Aspergillus fumigatus spondylitis in an immunocompetent patient with annular high signal around the intervertebral disks: a case report and literature review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Aspergillus fumigatus spondylitis in an immunocompetent patient with annular high signal around the intervertebral disks: a case report and literature review |
| title_short | Aspergillus fumigatus spondylitis in an immunocompetent patient with annular high signal around the intervertebral disks: a case report and literature review |
| title_sort | aspergillus fumigatus spondylitis in an immunocompetent patient with annular high signal around the intervertebral disks a case report and literature review |
| topic | Aspergillus fumigatus Aspergillus infectious spondylitis immunocompetent clinical features |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2024.1532282/full |
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