Myelitis and toxic, inflammatory, and infectious disorders.

Spinal epidural abscess is a rare infection that is usually treated with surgery and antibiotics. A small number of patients have been treated with medical therapy alone. We review several recent series of spinal epidural abscess and discuss the controversy surrounding the use of medical therapy alone. We also review recent clinical and pathogenetic data about human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 infection. The role of magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of intramedullary spinal cord abscess, and methylprednisolone and cyclophosphamide treatment of transverse myelitis in systemic lupus erythematosus are also discussed briefly.