PANCE Exam Practice Questions: Quiz 358

A 60-year-old male complains of low back pain, which has intensified over the past 3 months. He had experienced some fever at the onset of the pain. He was treated for acute pyelonephritis about 4 months ago. Physical examination shows tenderness over the L2-3 vertebra and paraspinal muscle spasm. Laboratory data show an erythrocyte sedimentation rate of 80 mm/h and elevated C-reactive protein. Which of the following statements is correct?
- a. Hematogenous osteomyelitis rarely involves the vertebra in adults.
- b. The most likely initial focus of infection was soft tissue.
- c. Blood cultures will be positive in most patients with this process.
- d. An MRI scan is both sensitive and specific in defining the process.

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