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Investigations

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

The following investigations are indicated if a spinal abscess is suspected:

  • plain X-ray films:
    • acutely, may be normal, show soft tissue swelling or vertebral collapse
    • chronically, may show destruction of the intervertebral disc space and the vertebrae
  • myelography: shows a complete or partial block to CSF passage
  • MRI - the definitive investigation for abscess localisation

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