Development of Criteria Highly Suggestive of Spinal Tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND: 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.

METHODS: 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.

RESULTS: 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.

CONCLUSIONS: These relationships were considered the most probable criteria for the diagnosis of spinal tuberculosis.