An Unusual Extent of Retroperitoneal Abscess Formation in Spinal Tuberculosis : An Illustrative Case Report

Authors

Alia Yassine Kassab, Fariss Dehayni, Mehdi Salmane, Lina Lasri, Ola Messaoud, Zaynab Iraqi Houssaini, Laila Jroundi

Journal Information

Journal: Medpeer Publisher

ISSN: 3066-2737

Volume: 3

Issue: 1

Date of Publication: 2026/01/23

DOI: 10.70780/medpeer.000QGR1

Abstract

Pott disease, or spinal tuberculosis, is the most frequent form of osteoarticular tuberculosis and can manifest with diverse radiological patterns and potentially serious complications. Cold abscesses are a hallmark feature but may remain clinically silent until late in the disease course. We report the case of a patient with thoracolumbar Pott disease complicated by large bilateral retroperitoneal muscular abscesses, initially undetected on physical examination. Cross-sectional imaging, including CT and MRI, was pivotal in delineating the extent of spinal involvement and associated soft tissue collections, guiding timely surgical and medical management. This case highlights the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion for atypical presentations of spinal tuberculosis and demonstrates the critical role of imaging in early diagnosis, assessment of disease severity, and planning of appropriate interventions to prevent further morbidity.

Keywords

Spinal Tuberculosis, Pott Disease, psoas abscess, Retroperitoneal abscess, Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, Spondylodiscitis, Case Report