Abstract
Background
Non-traumatic acquired spinal deformities represent a separate entity within the axial pathologies in children. Their causes are variable (neurological, muscular, infectious, especially Pott's disease, inflammatory or tumoral).
The etiological diagnosis can be clinically oriented by pain, medical history, especially rheumatic. The contribution of the CT scan is crucial, as it localizes the lesion, specifies its nature, but above all it helps the histological diagnosis by guided biopsies.
Our case illustrates the difficulties in diagnosing the aetiology of spinal acquired deformity in a girl with a multi-evocative context.
Observation
A 14 years-old girl complains for a few months of a dorso-lumbar spinal pain and a vicious attitude. Her medical history includes femoral thrombophlebitis and psoriasis. She had no trauma or fever.
Clinically, the general state is preserved, with no local inflammatory signs, a kyphotic attitude with an analgesic lumbar support was noted. The rest of the locomotor exam was normal.
CT scan shows cancellous body geodes with a double mirror.
Discussion
Acquired spinal deformities are always secondary to general disease. The fever may point to bacterial infections, especially tuberculosis (Pott's disease), but also non-infectious causes such as a rheumatic disease.
For our patient, psoriasis argues for the latter possibility. However, the rarity of isolated disco-vertebral involvement and the severity of the lytic lesions are against this diagnosis. The histopathological exam showed an eosinophilic granuloma, confirming the histiocytosis X diagnosis. The cortico-response strengthen the diagnosis.
The course was marked by the bone remodeling with the posture correction.
Conclusion
A clinical, radiological, and histological analysis allow the etiological orientation in front of acquired spinal deformity.
