| style="padding: 5px 5px; background: #F5F5F5;" |Presents with a collection of [[blood]] in the [[epidural space]], [[headache]], [[back pain]], [[confusion]], [[weakness]], and [[focal neurologic signs]].
| style="padding: 5px 5px; background: #F5F5F5;" | Presents with [[focal neurologic signs]], [[increased intracranial pressure]], [[lower back pain]], and [[seizures]].
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*'''[[Epidural hematoma]]''' - consists in the buildup of [[blood]] in the [[epidural space]], between the [[dura mater]] and the inner [[bone]] surface of the [[skull]] or [[spinal canal]]. It may cause [[headache]] or [[back pain]], depending on the location of the [[hematoma]], [[confusion]], [[weakness]], [[focal neurologic signs]] and others. Since many of this [[signs]] and [[symptoms]] are shared with the [[epidural abscess]], this conditions should be included in the differential diagnosis.
*'''[[Meningitis]]''' - consists in the [[inflammation]] of the [[meninges]], as a response to [[infectious agents]], certain [[drugs]], [[trauma]] or [[cancer]]. The [[inflammatory]] process will cause [[signs]] and [[symptoms]] such as [[headache]], [[back pain]], [[nuchal rigidity]], [[fever]] and [[altered mental status]], which are similar to those of [[epidural abscess]], and why [[meningitis]] should be on the differential diagnosis.
*'''[[Bone]] [[tuberculosis]]''' - a presentation of extrapulmonary [[tuberculosis]], affecting the [[bones]], most often the [[spine]] ([[Pott's disease]], at the level of lower thoracic and upper lobar [[vertebrae]]. It results from an hematogenous spread of the organism from other sites, commonly the [[lung]]. It may have various [[signs]] and [[symptoms]], from which back [[pain]], [[fever]] and [[weakness]] are common to the [[epidural abscess]], making this an important element of the differential diagnosis.{{Seealso|Pott's disease}}
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*'''Primary or [[metastatic]] [[tumor]]''' - consists in any [[tumor]] arising from the [[spinal cord]], or elsewhere in the body, which metastasises to the [[spinal cord]]. Depending on its location, it may be classified as: ''extradural'', ''intramural'' or ''intramedullary'' [[spinal tumor]]. It will create a [[mass effect]], which will compress the [[spinal cord]] and weaken the [[vertebral]] structure, causing [[signs]] and [[symptoms]], such as: [[incontinence]], [[weakness]] in the saddle area and [[back pain]]. Therefore it should also be included in this differential diagnosis.
Spinal epidural abscess must be differentiated from other diseases that cause back pain, fever, motor weakness, and spinal tenderness.[2][3][4][5] Therefore, spinal epidural abscess must be differentiated from: