Mycobacterial spindle cell pseudotumor of the spinal cord: Case report and literature review
We report the first description of spinal cord mycobacterial spindle cell pseudotumor. A patient with newly diagnosed advanced HIV presented with recent-onset bilateral leg weakness and was found to have a hypermetabolic spinal cord mass on structural and molecular imaging. Biopsy and cultures from blood and cerebrospinal fluid confirmed spindle cell pseudotumor due to Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare. Despite control of HIV and initial reduction in pseudotumor volume on antiretrovirals and antimycobacterials (azithromycin, ethambutol, rifampin/rifabutin), he ultimately experienced progressive leg weakness due to pseudotumor re-expansion.
Source: Journal of Neuroimmunology - Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Michael Tran Duong, Adam Ungemach, Faizan Malik, Melissa T. Duong, Noah Wasserman, Kumarasen Cooper, Austin R. Pantel, Jessica O'Neil, Zsofia Szep Source Type: research