Abstract
Background: Intramedullary abscesses are rare and may be misdiagnosed. We report the case of a 54-year-old man with carcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction who presented after thoracotomy with hemiparesis and a ring-enhancing intramedullary lesion at C2–3 on magnetic resonance imaging.
Methods: Individual case report and literature review.
Results: Although the lesion was initially mistaken for metastasis, at surgery an intramedullary abscess was discovered, from which group F Streptococcus was isolated.
Conclusions: Although other streptococcal species have been found in abscesses of the spinal cord, this particular strain has not been identified previously as a cause of such abscesses. Prompt surgical evacuation is recommended, and should be followed by appropriately tailored antibiotic therapy.
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