Histopathology of Bone and Joint Infections

This book focuses on histopathological features of bone and joint infections. Bone and joint infection is a serious health problem that has increased in the past two decades. Their diagnosis requires the collaboration of physicians, radiologists, microbiologists and pathologists. Symptoms of these lesions are nonspecific often resulting in a delayed diagnosis. Radiology is needed for the diagnosis of bone and joint infection, determining the severity and extent of disease. The radiological diagnosis of these infections is challenging because of multiple overlaps with tumor etiologies.

Effective antibiotic treatment relies on the detection of the causative organisms and its their susceptibility testing. However, culture is time consuming. Besides, administering antibiotics prior to performing surgery or biopsy, the low virulent bacteria, tissues contaminations and sampling errors limit the reliability of bone culture. Histology is a key tool for the diagnosis of boneand joint infection by evaluating the tissue reaction pattern caused by the pathogen. The histopathological diagnosis is based on the evaluation of the tissue changes and the leukocyte infiltration pattern.

The purpose of this book will be to report in detail the histopathological features of bone and joint infections with emphasis on key diagnostic features and differential diagnoses. It will also highlight special stain and other ancillary tests that can be used as an aid in the histological diagnosis. 

Soumaya Rammeh Rommani is Professor of Pathology at the Medical School of Tunis. She is Head of the Pathology Department of Charles Nicolle hospital, Tunisia and head of the research laboratory theranostic biomarkers: LR23ES02, Tunisia. She has co-authored or authored 128 peer-reviewed scientific papers, and 5 chapters in 3 books: Imaging of Spinal Infection, Imaging of tuberculosis and Musculoskeletal Hydatosis. She served as secretary and president of the Tunisian Pathology Society, and president of the Tunisian Molecular Pathology Society.  

Mohamed Fethi Ladeb is Professor of Radiology at the Medical School of Tunis. He was Former Head of the Department of Radiology, M. Kassab Orthopaedic Institute, Tunisia. His subspecialty interest is musculoskeletal radiology. He is a member of the international Skeletal Society, The French Radiologic Society, The Swiss Radiologic Society, The Tunisian Radiologic Society and The Tunisian Society of Telemedicine. His academic output comprises 100 journal publications, 17 book chapters, 2 guidelines and 3 books - Musculoskeletal Hydatosis , Imaging of Spinal Infection, Imaging of tuberculosis.