Case Report: Bilateral optic disc swelling in a patient with tuberculoma

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In children, tuberculosis of the central nervous system most usually manifests as tubercular meningitis, hydrocephalus post-tubercular meningitis, and, in rare cases, space-occupying lesions known as tuberculoma. We address the diagnostic difficulty in an adult patient with mainly ocular symptoms who was diagnosed with tuberculoma. A 19-year-old young man came with painless bilateral blurring of vision. Bilateral optic disc swelling and bilateral sixth cranial nerve palsy were present. METHODS: Brain imaging revealed ring-enhancing lesions in the cerebellar vermis, left cerebellar hemisphere and left middle cerebral peduncle with surrounding extensive perilesional edema causing effacement of fourth ventricle leading to obstructive hydrocephalus suggestive of tuberculoma. RESULTS: He had a high erythrocyte sedimentation rate and a positive Mantoux test. His Quantiferon-TB Gold test result was positive. The examination of cerebrospinal fluid suggested a high opening pressure. Following anti-tubercular medication along with systemic steroids, his vision improved due to decreased optic disc swelling. CONCLUSION: We wish to highlight that visual loss and grave consequences of tuberculoma can be averted with early recognition and treatment.