OBJECTIVE: to compare the radiological images of tuberculosis and nonspecific spondylodiscitis. METHODS: a retrospective study by reviewing medical records and imaging studies of patients, with nonspecific and specific discitis by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Pott disease), who underwent treatment at the Spine Group, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology in the period from 1989 to August 2009. RESULTS: we analyzed 48 medical records and image files of patients with Tbc's discitis and 31 patients with non-specific discitis. Of the patients with Pott disease, 54% were male, and the age ranged from 3 to 87 with a mean of 44.1 years. In patients with non-specific discitis, 68% were male, and the age ranged from 2 months to 76 years. The predominant radiographic pattern on tuberculosis discitis was the wedging of the anterior vertebral body in 88.2% of the cases. In patients with non-specific discitis, decreased disc space was the most prevalent finding, found in 87% of the cases. CONCLUSION: Tbc's discitis has presented more structural changes in the spine, such as kyphosis, and paravertebral reaction in relation to non-specific discitis. Led to fewer and not as severe vertebral abnormalities generally progressed well with only conservative treatment. While the prevalence of non-specific infection was higher in pediatric patients, Tbc's discitis was more prevalent with the increase of the age of patients.
Spine; Discitis; Tuberculosis
