Intracerebral Tuberculomas Research Articles

Cerebral tuberculoma and convulsion in infants: A case report

Tuberculosis of the central nervous system is the second most common site after tuberculous meningitis. It represents 0.2% of intracranial expansive lesions in some Western countries compared to 10%-30% in developing countries. We report the case of an infant of 1 year and 2 months old who presented for 15 days with convulsions with asthenia, hypotonia, without fever. The clinical examination and laboratory workup were without abnormalities. His father had ongoing pulmonary tuberculosis, but the infant had no clinical or radiological signs of pulmonary tuberculosis. A brain MRI was showed multiple punctiform brain lesions, suggesting intracerebral tuberculomas in the first place, given the clinical and radiological appearance and the father's history of tuberculosis. The patient was put on anti-convulsant and antibacillary treatment. Through this case, we can see the clinical and radiological polymorphism of cerebral tuberculoma. The diagnosis of certainty remains anatomopathological. The prognosis is poor when it is detected late.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Appearance of Giant Intracerebral Tuberculoma: A Retrospective Analysis

Background: Giant intracerebral tuberculomas are rare lesions but should be considered in the differential diagnosis of intracranial space-occupying lesion in an endemic region.Objective: The purpose of this study is to analyze the clinical data and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of giant intracerebral tuberculomas to improve the diagnostic precision.Material and Methods: The clinical and MRI findings of 22 patients of giant intracerebral tuberculoma were analyzed retrospectively. For the statistical analysis independent sample Student t-test was used.Results: For 22 patients included in this sample the giant intracerebral tuberculoma was of size more than 2.5cm. The majority of the giant tuberculomas (19 patients (86.4%))was located in the supratentorial area.T2-weighted hypointense core of giant tuberculoma was observed in 12 patients (54.5%) and T1 hyperintensities were observed in peripheral (wall) of the giant tuberculoma in 14 patients (63.6%). The mean ADC value of the peripheral (wall) of the giant tuberculoma was 1.034± 0.466[SD] x 10-3mm2/s and the core was 0.994± 0.455[SD] x 10-3mm2/s with a statistically significant difference (p-value <0.0005) in between. MR spectroscopy showed raised lipid peak at 0.9 to 1.33 ppm in 10 patients (45.5%),raised lipid-lactate peak in 12 patients (54.5%),raised Choline/Cr ratio more than 1.2 in 14 patients(63.6%) and Choline/Cr ratio less than 1.2 in 5 patients (22.7%). Associated involvement of lung was observed in the 6patients (27.3%), cervical lymph node in 1 patient (4.5%) and spine in 1patient (4.5%).Conclusions: MRI plays a vital role in distinguishing giant intracerebral tuberculomas from other intracranial space-occupying lesions, thereby allows the early institution of anti-tubercular treatment (ATT), decreased patient morbidity, mortality, and prevents unnecessary neurosurgical excision.

Diagnostic challenges in cerebral tuberculoma presenting with seizures in pregnancy.

Tuberculoma is an uncommon presentation of tuberculosis and is found in regions with a high prevalence of tuberculosis. This is rarely diagnosed during pregnancy. The presentation can mimic other etiologies such as eclampsia or cerebral venous sinus thrombosis so the diagnosis can be challenging, particularly when presenting with seizures in pregnancy. Described here is a woman in her first pregnancy who presented with seizures mimicking eclampsia and was suspected to have a brain tumour on neuroimaging. She was diagnosed to have a intracerebral tuberculoma on histopathological examination following surgical decompression after delivery.

The ring in the neck-managing paraparesis in cervical intramedullary tuberculoma: Inputs from a neurorehabilitation desk

Central nervous system (CNS) tuberculosis is a less common entity even in endemic countries like India. Involvement of spine is much less frequent than brain, but concurrent involvement of brain and spine by tuberculoma is rare. A 23-year-old female with paraparesis was diagnosed as having cervical ring enhancing lesion in MRI suggesting intramedullary tuberculoma along with long segment cervicodorsal edema. On brain screening she had multiple intracerebral tuberculomas without any evidence of tuberculosis elsewhere in the body. She was treated with a multidisciplinary approach including neurological management and neurorehabilitation, with remarkable clinical recovery. In presence of acute neurological deficit, early start of rehabilitation along with medical management can give outstanding results in terms of neuro-recovery and improvement of residual neurodeficits. Surgical intervention can be avoided in many cases.

Isolated Cerebellar Tuberculoma Mimicking a Posterior Cranial Fossa Tumor in an Immunocompetent Patient

Isolated Central Nervous System (CNS) tuberculoma is a rare disease. Despite advancements in imaging and laboratory diagnostics, intracerebral tuberculomas remain a diagnostic challenge due to their insidious nature and non-specific findings.

Challenges in management of CNS tuberculosis

CNS Tuberculosis is the most deadly infection with high morbidity and mortality. Challenges are at level of establishing diagnosis as well as treatment. Diagnosis is mainly clinical and is based on clinical history, CSF examination, microbiological tests, Neuroradiology findings and evidence of tuberculosis elsewhere in the body. Clinical manifestations are variable with subacute or chronic presentation of headache, fever, vomiting, cranial nerve palsies, seizures and focal deficits. CSF usually shows high proteins, low sugar and increased cells mainly lymphocytes. Unusual CSF findings with mild increase in protein ,few cells and sometimes polymorphonuclear response in early stage are also observed. Finding of AFB in CSF is confirmatory but the yield is low as CNS Tuberculosis is a paucibacillary disease. CSF geneXpert Ultra has much higher sensitivity than GeneXpert, but this new facility is not available in most centers. CSF culture is gold standard, however it takes long time. Neuroimaging reveals basal exudates, tubeculoma, infarcts and hydrocephalus. There are no controlled trials for the treatment regimen or duration of treatment. Standard protocol is to start on 4 antituberculous drugs with steroids. Intracerebral tuberculoma may require longer duration of treatment up to 2 years and still in some patients the lesions may not resolve. Hydrocephalus, infarcts and Hyponatremia are important complications. In high endemic areas, treatment can be started empirically. Associated comorbid infections like HIV is seen is less than 10 % cases. After initial improvement, some patients show paradoxical response with deterioration clinically and radiologically. Treatment failure and drug resistance is another issue. Early diagnosis and initiation of treatment is the key for cure and prevention of complications.

Congenital skull anomaly with multiple brain stones and symptomatic meningioma of medial sphenoid wing

Intracranial calcifications are not uncommon and are mostly seen with intracerebral hematomas, tuberculomas, and brain tumors. These lesions may be intra- or extra-axial and occasionally pose challenge in the diagnosis. We report a case of multiple intracranial extra-axial calcifications with congenital skull anomaly and multiple meningiomas. Authors could not find similar case reported in the literature and present their findings and discuss relevant literature.

Tuberculous meningoencephalitis associated with brain tuberculomas during pregnancy: a case report

BackgroundTuberculous meningitis is globally highly prevalent and is commoner in resource-limited countries and in patients with immunosuppression. Central nervous system tuberculosis is one of the severest forms of extrapulmonary tuberculosis during pregnancy and associated brain tuberculomas have been rarely reported. With the availability of neuroimaging at our hospital center, we present the first case of tuberculous meningoencephalitis associated with brain tuberculomas during pregnancy.Case presentationIn this case report we present a 25-year-old, Albanian, pregnant woman living in an urban area in Kosovo, who at 24 weeks of twin pregnancy manifested signs and symptoms of meningoencephalitis with decreased level of consciousness, hemiparesis, and generalized recurrent seizures. Based on medical history, origin from a region of high prevalence of tuberculosis, clinical presentation, especially neurological examination, cytobiochemical changes in cerebrospinal fluid (mild mononuclear pleocytosis with decreased level of glucose and elevated proteins), and elevated level of interferon-gamma release assay in cerebrospinal fluid, antituberculous therapy was initiated on the fourth day of admission. After 3 weeks of treatment, at 27 weeks of pregnancy, she had a preterm delivery and both twins, with low birthweight, died after 24 and 72 hours. Although findings on chest radiography were normal, brain magnetic resonance imaging showed signs of meningoencephalitis and multiple intracerebral tuberculomas, while Koch’s bacillus was isolated from urine cultures. On long-term follow-up after delivery, she was cured with no sequelae and became pregnant again without any additional complications.ConclusionsIn countries with a high prevalence of tuberculosis, screening for central nervous system tuberculosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of meningitis in pregnancy. Cerebral imaging is essential to establish the diagnosis of brain tuberculomas in such a case of suspected tuberculous meningoencephalitis during pregnancy.

Ring-enhancing brain lesions, clinical presentation of focal seizures, and inconclusive anatomical neuroimaging features

Ring-enhancing brain lesions, clinical presentation of focal seizures, and inconclusive anatomical neuroimaging features

Perfusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging Characteristics of Intracerebral Tuberculomas and Its Role in Differentiating Tuberculomas from Metastases

Intracerebral tuberculomas usually manifest as ring-enhancing of nodular lesions on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These imaging findings are also observed in other lesions like metastases and toxoplasmosis. To study the MRI perfusion characteristics of tuberculomas and its potential role in their definitive diagnosis. Thirty-four tuberculomas were evaluated by conventional and perfusion MRI. The relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) values of the center, peripheral wall, and perilesional neuroparenchymal tissue were calculated using rCBV maps. Ten ring-enhancing metastases were similarly evaluated and rCBV values of their peripheral walls were calculated. Thirty-one of the 34 tuberculomas were ring-enhancing or conglomerate lesions and revealed hypoperfused centers with hyperperfused peripheral walls, with the mean rCBV ± SD being 0.42 ± 0.25 and 2.04 ± 0.61, respectively. Three nodular enhancing lesions showed predominantly homogenous hyperperfusion, with the mean rCBV measuring 2.96 ± 0.39 (mean ± SD). The perilesional neuroparenchyma was hypoperfused in both cases. The metastases revealed mean rCBV ratio of the peripheral wall to be 5.43 ± 2.1 (mean ± SD). Analysis of the values by ROC curve method revealed a cut-off value of ≥3.745 for differentiating ring-enhancing metastases from ring-enhancing tuberculomas. Perfusion MR is a useful tool for the assessment of tuberculomas and can help differentiate them from neoplasms like metastases. It also has a potential role in monitoring therapy and for early detection of drug resistance.

Réactions paradoxales sous traitement antituberculeux chez des personnes non infectées par le VIH : quatre nouvelles observations et revue de la littérature

IntroductionThe features of paradoxical reactions (PR) that occurred in non-HIV infected patients treated with antituberculous drugs are diverse. We report four new cases of such PR and review the literature. Patients and methodsWere included all consecutive patients with PR that occurred in non-HIV infected patients who were treated for tuberculosis and followed-up in the department of internal medicine and infectious diseases between January 1st, 2009 and July 31st, 2010. ResultsThree of the patients were male. Their median age was 28.5years. Tuberculous locations were pulmonary (two instances) and extrapulmonary (three instances). Paradoxical reactions occurred after a median of 5.5weeks after initiation of antituberculous treatment. The PR presented as hypercalcemia (n=1), spondylitis of the 9th thoracic vertebra (n=1), intracerebral tuberculoma (n=1), pericardial effusion (n=1) and adenitis (n=3). Lymphopenia was present in three patients. Three out of the four patients received corticosteroid. Outcome was favorable in three patients. ConclusionPardoxical reactions are more common in patients who present with extrapulmonary tuberculosis. Intracerebral tuberculomas and spondylitis may be asymptomatic. Prescription of corticosteroids remains controversial except for intracerebral tuberculoma.

Brain Tuberculoma in a Non-endemic Area

Brain tuberculoma has previously accounted for up to a third of new intracranial lesions in areas endemic with tuberculosis, but is unexpected in the United States and other Western countries with improved disease control. Here we show the importance of considering this diagnosis in at-risk patients, even with no definitive pulmonary involvement. We describe a young man who presented with partial seizures and underwent craniotomy for resection of a frontoparietal tuberculoma. He subsequently completed six months of antituberculosis therapy and was doing well without neurological sequelae or evidence of recurrence five months after completion of therapy. With resurgence of tuberculosis cases in the United States and other Western countries, intracerebral tuberculoma should remain a diagnostic consideration in at-risk patients with new space occupying lesions. Mass lesions causing neurological sequelae can be safely addressed surgically and followed with antituberculosis therapy.

NeuroAIDS in sub-Saharan Africa: A clinical review

NeuroAIDS affects half of the 22 million people currently living with HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa, where cryptococcal meningitis alone is responsible for 504,000 deaths annually. A good understanding of NeuroAIDS may help improve disease-free survival in patients at risk and optimize resource utilization by caregivers. In this review, we aimed to provide a summary of major NeuroAIDS syndromes of relevance in Africa. We searched Medline for English language literature to identify relevant publications, using the search terms "NeuroAIDS" and "HIV AND nervous system." The most common NeuroAIDS syndrome is HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND), which affects over 1.5 million Africans yearly. While incidence of HAND has decreased with the use of highly active antiretroviral therapy, prevalence has increased due to longer life expectancy. Other NeuroAIDS syndromes include tuberculous meningitis and intracerebral tuberculoma, cryptococcal meningitis, toxoplasma encephalitis, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, primary central nervous system lymphoma, stroke, and distal sensory polyneuropathy. NeuroAIDS care and research in Africa are hindered by resource limitations. Inadequate neuroimaging and laboratory facilities result in diagnostic delays and confusion, while limited access to drugs leads to inappropriate treatment. However, the situation may be improving. Better funding of HIV care by African governments and donor agencies have resulted in decreasing HIV prevalence and prolonged survival. Yet, central nervous system opportunistic infections remain important causes of death and disability among African patients with HIV/AIDS. There is the need for additional funding to improve access to antibiotics and to facilitate further research into NeuroAIDS and its treatment.

Neurological complications of miliary tuberculosis

Introduction The symptomatic central nervous system involvement is often seen in patients with miliary tuberculosis. Materials and methods In this study, we evaluated 60 consecutive miliary tuberculosis patients, who presented with some neurological manifestations. Evaluation included neurological examination, a battery of blood tests, HIV serology, sputum examination, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination along with imaging of the brain and spinal cord. The patients were followed up after completion of 6 months of antituberculous treatment. Results Patients ranged between 14 and 53 years in age. Three patients tested HIV positive. Forty-eight (80%) patients had tuberculous meningitis. In 12 (20%) patients, the CSF examination was normal. In 27 patients with tuberculous meningitis, neuroimaging revealed intracerebral tuberculoma. Fourteen patients showed multiple tuberculomas, while 7 had a solitary tuberculoma. In six patients, the tuberculomas were small and numerous. In two patients, neuroimaging revealed a spinal tuberculoma. For three patients with tuberculous brain masses, the CSF was normal. Nine (15%) patients presented with myelopathy. Three patients exhibited Pott's paraplegia. Three patients had transverse myelitis (with normal neuroimaging). In three patients, the spinal MRI revealed an intramedullary tuberculoma. On follow-up, 15 (25%) patients expired. Thirty-one (52%) patients showed significant improvement. Eight patients (13%) showed nil or partial recovery. Six of the patients with no improvement developed vision loss. Six (10%) patients were lost to follow up. Conclusion A variety of neurological complications were noted in military tuberculosis patients, tuberculous meningitis and cerebral tuberculomas being the most frequent complications. However, a majority of patients improved following antituberculous treatment.

British Infection Society guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis of the central nervous system in adults and children

SUMMARY AND KEY RECOMMENDATIONS: The aim of these guidelines is to describe a practical but evidence-based approach to the diagnosis and treatment of central nervous system tuberculosis in children and adults. We have presented guidance on tuberculous meningitis (TBM), intra-cerebral tuberculoma without meningitis, and tuberculosis affecting the spinal cord. Our key recommendations are as follows: 1. TBM is a medical emergency. Treatment delay is strongly associated with death and empirical anti-tuberculosis therapy should be started promptly in all patients in whom the diagnosis of TBM is suspected. Do not wait for microbiological or molecular diagnostic confirmation. 2. The diagnosis of TBM is best made with lumbar puncture and examination of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Suspect TBM if there is a CSF leucocytosis (predominantly lymphocytes), the CSF protein is raised, and the CSF:plasma glucose is <50%. The diagnostic yield of CSF microscopy and culture for Mycobacterium tuberculosis increases with the volume of CSF submitted; repeat the lumbar puncture if the diagnosis remains uncertain. 3. Imaging is essential for the diagnosis of cerebral tuberculoma and tuberculosis involving the spinal cord, although the radiological appearances do not confirm the diagnosis. A tissue diagnosis (by histopathology and mycobacterial culture) should be attempted whenever possible, either by biopsy of the lesion itself, or through diagnostic sampling from extra-neural sites of disease e.g. lung, gastric fluid, lymph nodes, liver, bone marrow. 4. Treatment for all forms of CNS tuberculosis should consist of 4 drugs (isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide, ethambutol) for 2 months followed by 2 drugs (isoniazid, rifampicin) for at least 10 months. Adjunctive corticosteroids (either dexamethasone or prednisolone) should be given to all patients with TBM, regardless of disease severity. 5. Children with CNS tuberculosis should ideally be managed by a paediatrician with familiarity and expertise in paediatric tuberculosis or otherwise with input from a paediatric infectious diseases unit. The Children's HIV Association of UK and Ireland (CHIVA) provide further guidance on the management of HIV-infected children (www.chiva.org.uk). 6. All patients with suspected or proven tuberculosis should be offered testing for HIV infection. The principles of CNS tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment are the same for HIV infected and uninfected individuals, although HIV infection broadens the differential diagnosis and anti-retroviral treatment complicates management. Tuberculosis in HIV infected patients should be managed either within specialist units by physicians with expertise in both HIV and tuberculosis, or in a combined approach between HIV and tuberculosis experts. The co-administration of anti-retroviral and anti-tuberculosis drugs should follow guidance issued by the British HIV association (www.bhiva.org).

Co-Occurrence of Intracerebral Tuberculoma With Lumbar Intramedullary Tuberculoma

Tuberculosis is common in India, but the co-occurrence of intracranial and intramedullary tuberculomas as a manifestation of central nervous system tuberculosis is extremely rare in children. We report a case of concurrent intracranial and lumbar intramedullary tuberculomas in a 6-year-old girl. The child developed the intracranial and intramedullary tuberculomas while on antituberculous therapy for previously diagnosed tuberculous meningitis. The child improved well on antituberculous drugs and neurosurgical excision of the lumbar lesion. Histopathology confirmed tuberculous etiology of the intramedullary lesion.

Magnetic resonance imaging findings of a case of an intradural-extramedullary tuberculoma of the spinal cord

We present a rare case of intradural-extramedullary tuberculoma in a HIV negative patient who was under antituberculous treatment for a confirmed prior diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis, intracerebral tuberculomas and gonadal tuberculosis. He presented at the emergency room with cord compression symptoms. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study demonstrated an intradural-extramedullary mass compressing the spinal cord. Brain imaging revealed resolution of the intracerebral tuberculomas. Surgical removal and histologic analysis confirmed the diagnosis.

Rapid Diagnosis of CNS Tuberculosis by a T-Cell Interferon-γ Release Assay on Cerebrospinal Fluid Mononuclear Cells

Central nervous system tuberculosis remains a clinical diagnostic challenge. The ex vivo Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific enzyme-linked immunospot assay (ELISPOT) is a novel assay for the rapid detection of M. tuberculosis-specific T-lymphocytes in the peripheral blood. However, when performed on peripheral blood, this assay cannot distinguish between active tuberculosis or latent tuberculosis infection. On the assumption that M. tuberculosis-specific T-lymphocytes migrate to sites of infection, we were able to demonstrate high levels of M. tuberculosis-specific cells by ELISPOT in the cerebrospinal fluid of a patient with tuberculous meningitis and intracerebral tuberculoma four weeks before cerebrospinal fluid culture became positive for M. tuberculosis by culture.

Disseminated tuberculosis with multiple intracerebral tuberculomas in a patient with anorexia nervosa

Multiple tuberculous mycobacterial infections infrequently occur in immunocompromised patients. The malnutrition resulted from anorexia nervosa may contribute to the significant impairment of immunity. The authors present a 23-year-old female patient initially diagnosed with anorexia nervosa. Immunological study revealed that helper T-cell (CD4) and cytotoxic T-cell (CD8) comprised 25 and 32%, respectively, with a CD4 to CD8 ratio of 0.78. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed various multiple rings enhancing lesions with edematous change in both cerebral and cerebellar hemispheres. Open biopsy disclosed palisading epithelioid granuloma surrounded by inflamed granulation tissue. After anti-tuberculous therapy for 12 months, her weight was completely restored, but multiple intracranial tuberculomas were not completely disappeared. Disseminated tuberculous mycobacterial infections including multiple intracranial tuberculomas may be attributed to immunocompromised status in anorexia nervosa.

Pulmonary miliary tuberculosis with multiple intracerebral tuberculous granulomas-report of two cases

Although intracerebral tuberculomas are common in countries where tuberculosis is still endemic, miliary tuberculosis with involvement of the central nervous system is exceptionally rare. We report two cases of pulmonary miliary tuberculosis with multiple intracerebral tuberculomas.