Central Nervous System Tuberculoma

Kim, Chae Yong; Kim, Dong Gyu

Abstract

The authors present a retrospective analysis of central nervous system(CNS) tuberculoma, describing the clinical manifestations, radiological findings, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. Between February 1984 to December 1996, 22 cases of CNS tuberculoma presenting as intracranial space occupying lesions were managed at Seoul National University Hospital. The age of patients ranged from two to 47 (mean, 28) years and the male-to-female ratio was 6 to 16. The diagnosis of CNS tuberculoma was pathologically confirmed in 18 cases, while the remaining four were diagnosed on the basis of clinical manifestations and radiological findings. The duration of follow-up ranged from 10 months to 7 years(median, 2 years). The results of treatment and prognosis were defined according to the status of patients on their final visit to the Outpatients' clinic. The symptoms of CNS tuberculoma were seizure(45% of cases), headache(36%), visual disturbance(18%), and hemiparesis(18%), and in 12 patients(55%), the presence of related pulmonary tuberculosis was noted. The most commom site of CNS tuberculoma was the frontal lobe; multiple lesions were present in five cases, and brain stem lesions in three. In 13 cases, CNS tuberculoma was seen as low signal intensity on T2 weighted magnetic resonance images(MRI). Gadolinium-enhanced T1 weighted MRI showed strong rim enhancement in ten cases and nodular enhancement in five, as well as characteristic grape-like conglomerated lesions in six cases. Surgical removal was performed in 13 cases, stereotactic biopsy in two, and biopsy via craniotomy in three. Although microbiologic study was negative in all 18 cases, diagnosis of CNS tuberculoma was possible on histological examination. After clinical or surgical diagnosis, a course of anti-tuberculosis medication was started in all patients. In 18 cases, intracranial lesions disappeared completely after anti-tuberculosis medication, and during the follow-up period, there was no evidence of recurrence. In three cases the lesions became smaller during treatment and symptoms improved. One patient died in spite of medication and decompressive surgery. Between the group of 13 patients who underwent decompressive surgery or lesionectomy via craniotomy, and the other group of nine, the outcome of treatment was not different(p=1.000, Fisher's exact test). In conclusion, the MRI findings of intracranial CNS tuberculoma are characteristic MRI findings. In cases of CNS tuberculoma, the treatment of choice is anti-tuberculous medication after histologic confirmation, though if sufficient clinical data support this diagnosis, then diagnostic and therapeutic medication without histologic confirmation is recommanded. Stereotactic biopsy is an ideal method for confirming a pathologic diagnosis of intracranial CNS tuberculoma, except in the cases in which intracranial pressure is high.