Development of Criteria Highly Suggestive of Spinal Tuberculosis.

Abstract

In a developing country there is a need for development of criteria that can be used for the diagnosis of spinal tuberculosis, which is common in that region. Demographic, clinical, and radiologic features of spinal tuberculosis and spinal epidural tumors have been compared statistically, and inferences have been drawn in terms of P values, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values, and negative predictive values. A statistically significant relationship was found between spinal tuberculosis and spinal pain, fever, gradually progressive lower limb weakness, contrast-enhancing epidural ± paravertebral lesions, continuous levels affected, spinal deformity, and raised erythrocyte sedimentation rate. These relationships were considered the most probable criteria for the diagnosis of spinal tuberculosis.