Intradural spinal tuberculoma with genitourinary symptoms.

Abstract

Tuberculomas of the spinal canal may be intradural or extradural. The latter are almost invariably secondary to Pott's disease of the vertebrae and will not be considered further in this paper. Intradural spinal tuberculomas may be subdivided into intramedullary and extramedullary varieties. However, it may not always be possible to be sure of the site of origin in an individual case. For this reason they are often considered together and referred to as spinal cord tuberculomas. They are lesions of considerable rarity and interest. The following case is reported because of its unique mode of presentation, the paucity of long tract signs in the presence of a chronic and extensive lesion encasing and adherent to the spinal cord, and a clinical course which has been unexpectedly benign in view of the morphology and incomplete removal of the lesion. Historical Review The first description of such an intradural tuberculoma was by