SURGICAL MANAGEMENT OF INTRAMEDULLARY TUBERCULOMA: A CASE REPORT AND REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) is a common disease of developing countries especially in immunocompromised population. Most of the Central Nervous System (CNS) lesions in tuberculosis are intracranial with the ratio of cranial and spinal lesions averaging 42:1. Medical therapy with antitubercular drugs is the mainstay of the treatment modality for a conrmed lesion. We report a case of intramedullary spinal tuberculoma managed surgically, which did not respond to the medical management with radiological expansion and clinical deterioration. Surgical excision denitely has role in management of intramedullary tuberculoma. Early surgical intervention may provide better outcome if neurological symptoms appear or lesion size increases despite on antitubercular drug therapy.