Empyeem als zeldzame complicatie van spondylodiscitis

Empyema as a rare complication of spondylodiscitis Spondylodiscitis is a rare cause of pleural effusion and can be misunderstood due to its atypical presentations. The initial focus on respiratory causes of pleural effusions may lead to a delay in the diagnosis and an adequate treatment. This article describes a case of a 63-year-old woman who presented to the emergency department because of back pain. A pleural effusion on the right was found. The initial examinations showed an exudate with the presence of Streptococcus agalactiae and the suspicion of osteoarthritis causing the back pain. An 18F-FDG-PET-CT scan revealed an image of spondylodiscitis. An additional MRI of the vertebral column showed a clear connection between the spondylodiscitis and the pleural effusion on the right, revealing that both problems were connected with each other. A treatment with parenteral and subsequently oral antibiotic therapy was instituted, with a favourable evolution as a result.