Pyogenic spinal osteomyelitis--its clinical and radiological presentation.

We report 2 cases with different radiological presentations of vertebral pyogenic osteomyelitis. The underlying pathogenic mechanisms are discussed. Bone pain and tenderness associated with an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate are the most frequent clinical features that should alert the clinician to this diagnosis. This condition frequently escapes early diagnosis and is often considered late in the differential diagnosis of back pain.