Pyogenic Spondylitis with Rapid Bone Destruction After Chemoradiotherapy for Tongue Cancer : A Case Report and Literature Review

Radiation therapy is a frequently used effective treatment for head and neck cancer. It has several adverse effects of which osteomyelitis is a late complication of radiotherapy. Although uncommon, when it occurs in the vertebral body, it results in pyogenic spondylitis, which can be fatal. We report a case of pyogenic spondylitis, observed 2 years and 5 months after chemoradiotherapy following surgery for the treatment of tongue cancer. The initial symptoms were fever and posterior cervical pain. Initial CT images showed no abnormality in the cervical spine. However, when CT and MRI were followed over time, bone destruction and abscess formation were observed at the C3 and C4 vertebral endplates. Hence, CT-guided puncture drainage was performed from the anterior neck. The collected pus was diagnosed as Class II pyogenic spondylitis by cytology and the culture test revealed the presence of Streptococcus agalactiae. The infection was successfully treated by drainage and antibacterial chemotherapy.