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We report an exceptional case of tuberculosis in an 8-year-old girl. The focus of infection was situated in the anterior muscle compartment of the left thigh. Diagnosis was established on the basis of histological findings. A 12-month antituberculosis regimen was given. Outcome was good with no general or functional sequelae. Based on this case and data reported in the literature, we discuss the routes of dissemination of the Koch bacillus explaining this unusual sporadic localization.

Centro-somatic tuberculous vertebral osteitis is defined as tuberculous infection of the vertebral body with preserved integrity of the adjacent intervertabral disk. Other types of vertebral tuberculosis include Pott's spondylodiscitis and exceptional lesions of the posterior arch. We report a case of centro-somatic tuberculous vertebral osteitis in a 14-year-old boy who developed staged lesions of the L2 to S1 bodies, associated with a posterior epidural collection but without any deterioration of the intervertebral disk on plain x-rays and computed tomography. This atypical aspect of the lesions required a surgical biopsy which yielded a yellow-whitish fibro-oleagenous, friable product more suggestive of neoplasm than infection, but histology rectified the diagnosis, showing typical caseo-follicular tuberculosis. A 6-month anti-tuberculosis regimen was rapidly followed by symptom improvement. We emphasize the importance of modern imaging techniques for the diagnosis of vertebral lesions and for guided biopsy or drainage.

We report four cases of scoliosis associated with diatematomyelia observed between 1984 and 1998. The patients were four girls aged 10 to 12 years. Skin lesions were found on the midline in 3 cases and 2 had a neurological disorder. A myeloscan was performed in two cases, tomomyelography in one and MRI in one. Three patients were operated on with good outcome. The fourth child is under orthopedic treatment. We reviewed the literature on scoliosis with diastematomyelia.