Brucellosis spondylitis

A 68-year-old woman presented with asthenia and low back pain. She had no history of tuberculosis infection or known exposure. Laboratory tests showed that her leukocyte count was 3800/mm3 (reference range 3500–9500), erythrocyte sedimentation rate was 66 mm/h (reference range 0–20), and tumor markers were negative. Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) bone imaging showed increased tracer uptake (T12, L3–L4) (Figure 1A ). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a large and obvious enhancement shadow (T12, L3–L4) (Figure 1B). Brucella antibodies were positive on her serum agglutination test. Her son had a fever 3 days prior and blood culture grew Brucella melitensis; the lady raised goats with her son. She received treatment with doxycycline and rifampicin for 3 months. Her back pain disappeared and she remained symptom-free at follow-up 1 year later. On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest. There is no funding source.