Spinal subdural empyema is a very unusual condition. About 40 cases have been previously reported. The authors describe another case, mentioning the difficulties in diagnosis particularlry when no primary infection is known. In these circumstances, the neurological signs and MRI are important; MRI demonstrates the level of the lesion and its subdural localization. Surgical treatment and antibiotics are clearly indicated and the earliest it is done, the better the results.
spinal subdural empyema; subdural empyema; intrathecal empyema; spinal abscess; pachymeningitiis