Childhood diskitis: computed tomographic findings.

The spectrum of computed tomographic findings in seven children with diskitis is reported. Paravertebral inflammatory masses, intraspinal (epidural) soft-tissue extension with thecal sac deformity, and psoas involvement with abscess were demonstrated in 7/7, 6/7, and 1/7 patients, respectively. Plain radiographic findings of disk space narrowing and vertebral end-plate destruction were confirmed by CT in all cases. Follow-up CT in two patients revealed persistent bone destruction despite resolution of soft-tissue inflammation and clinical abnormalities. CT proved most useful in the diagnosis of early and atypical cases. The CT spectrum of childhood diskitis may simulate other diseases, including neoplasm, tuberculosis, and disk herniation. While CT is not routinely indicated in typical childhood diskitis, it may confirm the diagnosis in those patients with atypical clinical presentation or nonspecific plain radiographs, and exclude other lesions in patients unresponsive to routine treatment.