Unusual cause of back pain in a multiple myeloma patients: Infectious discitis

Abstract

A 58 year old patient, followed up for diabetes mellitus and multiple myeloma for ten years and six months, respectively, presented with persistent back pain, weakness at his lower extremity and intermittent fever. Activation markers of myeloma were in normal limits except high erythrocyte sedimentation rate and ele-vated C-reactive protein. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed increased Tl spinal intensity at the suspected disc level. Discitis was suspected on the basis of MRI and high fever. An intraoperative examination of speci-mens revealed Staphylococcus aureus. Detailed laboratory and radiological investigations should be perfor-med to diagnose unusual causes of persistent back pain, such as discitis in patients with myeloma.