Bartonella henselae vertebral osteomyelitis in a pediatric patient: A case report

Abstract

Bartonella henselae is an unusual and rarely suspected osteomyelitis etiologic agent. We present a case of low back-pain in a 10-year-old female which lead to a challenging diagnostic work-up due to subtle imaging findings. The diagnosis was Bartonella henselae vertebral osteomyelitis mimicking bone tumor.

Keywords: Bartonella henselae; back pain; bone lesion; magnetic resonance imaging; vertebral osteomyelitis.

FIGURE 1

(A,B) Coronal and sagittal MPR CT scan, osteolytic lesion of the left hemisome of L3 with interruption of the lateral and posterior walls (black arrows).

FIGURE 2

(A) Sagittal T2‐weighted image of lumbar spine with retrospinal hyperintense signal indicating inflammatory tissue (black arrow) at level L3 with anterior dural compression. (B,C) Sagittal and axial contrast‐enhanced T1‐weighted showing abnormal enhancement indicating osteomyelitis of the vertebral somatic body (white arrows) with interruption of the posterior wall (dotted arrow) and extension into the anterior epidural space.