Intracranial tuberculomas: review of MRI findings and clinical features.

AIM: To present a comprehensive analysis of the clinical features and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of intracranial tuberculomas in Indonesia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of brain MRI from 58 patients (29 women), mean age ± SD = 39 ± 2 years, diagnosed with intracranial tuberculomas. Clinical data, including symptoms, cerebrospinal fluid examination results, and MRI were also analysed. The diagnosis of intracranial tuberculoma was confirmed based on observed MRI changes following anti-tuberculosis therapy. RESULTS: A total of 603 tuberculomas were fully detected via MRI in all patients. Among these lesions, 507 (84%) were located in the cerebrum, 61 (10%) in the cerebellum, 19 (3%) in the basal ganglia, 12 (2%) in the brain stem, and four (1%) in the thalamus. The MRI signals were classified into two groups: tuberculomas with caseating granulomas and tuberculomas with non-caseating granulomas. Among the patients, 29 had concomitant meningitis, seven had hydrocephalus, and four had cerebral infarction. Evidence of pulmonary tuberculosis was found in 16 patients, with one patient having coexisting thoracic vertebral tuberculosis. CONCLUSION: The present study confirmed the significance of MRI as a valuable tool in the diagnosis of intracranial tuberculomas and the detection of associated abnormalities. The combination of MRI findings with clinical features can enhance the overall diagnostic accuracy for intracranial tuberculomas.

Clinical and Radiological End Points to Stop Anti-Tubercular Treatment in Central Nervous System Tuberculoma and Predictors of Poor Outcome: A Retrospective Study.

The clinical and radiological end points to stop anti-tubercular treatment in central nervous system (CNS) tuberculoma are not known. This retrospective study was done to determine end points to stop anti-tubercular treatment and find the predictors of poor outcome in patients with CNS tuberculoma. Patients who were admitted with a diagnosis of brain/spine tuberculoma between January 2015 and December 2019 and who completed a minimum of 1-year follow-up were enrolled. Clinical and radiological end points to stop anti-tubercular treatment and predictors of death and poor outcome (modified Rankin scale > 2) were analyzed. One hundred and eight patients (male-to-female ratio, 47 [43.5%]:61 [56.5%]; brain tuberculoma, 102; spinal cord tuberculoma, 14; brain and spinal cord tuberculoma, 8) were included in the study. Median duration of anti-tubercular treatment was 24 months. Radiological resolution of tuberculoma (resolution of gadolinium-enhancing lesion, gliosis, calcification, cord atrophy, or syrinx formation) and radiological halt (no increase in size/number of tuberculoma on magnetic resonance imaging scans done 6 months apart) were used as end points to stop anti-tubercular treatment in 69 and 7 patients, respectively. Seven patients stopped their treatment by themselves, and 25 patients died. Altered sensorium, motor weakness, infarcts, hydrocephalus, and constitutional symptoms of tuberculous meningitis were predictors of poor outcome or death in CNS tuberculoma patients. Radiological resolution or radiological halt of brain/spinal cord tuberculoma was a reasonable end point to stop anti-tubercular treatment. However, this may require 24 months or more of anti-tubercular treatment. Associated tuberculous meningitis and its complications portend a poor prognosis.

Brain tuberculoma in pediatric heart transplant recipient.

INTRODUCTION: Heart transplantation is the standard treatment for end-stage heart disease. Despite advances in the field, patients remain under risk of developing complications, including opportunistic infections, such as tuberculosis. We present the unprecedented case of cerebral tuberculoma in a 9-year-old heart transplant recipient. CASE SCENARIO: A 9-year-old female child, who underwent heart transplantation in December 2020, was admitted to the emergency department in September 2021 due to headache and vomiting. She had normal vital signs and a mild left hemiparesis. Laboratory findings included lymphopenia and a low C Reactive Protein and brain images showed expansive lesions. A biopsy of the intracranial lesion was performed and anatomopathological analysis was compatible with tuberculoma. After the diagnosis was established, treatment protocol for neurotuberculosis was initiated, the patient had a satisfactory clinical evolution and was discharged 22 days after admission. DISCUSSION: Clinical manifestation of tuberculosis usually occurs up to 6 months after transplantation, the findings are commonly atypical and symptoms may be mild. We could not find in medical literature any description of the disease in a heart transplant recipient as young as the one presented in this case report. We documented great response to treatment, even though conventional antituberculosis therapy may interfere with immunosuppression. CONCLUSION: Patients in the postoperative period following heart transplantation are at high risk for developing opportunistic infections such as tuberculosis, which may present with atypical symptoms. Therefore the clinician must have a high index of suspicion in order to make the correct diagnosis and promptly start treatment.

Concurrent cerebral infarction and intracranial tuberculoma induced by the carotid plaque complicated with miliary tuberculosis.

Cerebrovascular complications of central nervous system tuberculosis (TB) are predictors of poor prognosis and adverse outcomes. These complications are mainly intracranial arterial involvement, with occasional venous involvement. Here, we present a 67-year-old woman with concurrent cerebral infarction and intracranial tuberculoma induced by the carotid plaque complicated by miliary tuberculosis. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was observed on the luminal side of the carotid plaques in pathological specimens. Treatment with anti-TB drugs alone would likely not cure the patient, as M. tuberculosis would continue to disseminate. Endarterectomy could directly remove the embolic source, and a complete cure was achieved.

[Cerebral manifestationsof tuberculosis].

Almost two billion people are infected with M. Tuberculosis. The most common manifestation of TB is pulmonary; however, severe manifestations of TB can affect the central nervous system. This case report describes a young refugee with onset of sixth nerve palsy and an MRI consistent with a pontine tumor. Stereotactic biopsy showed giant cells and acid-fast rods, Quantiferon test was positive, thus fulfilling the criteria for tuberculoma. The patient immediately began antituberculous treatment and slowly recovered. The purpose of this article was to elucidate the necessity of screening migrants from TB-endemic areas.

Giant cerebral tuberculoma mimicking a high-grade tumour in a child.

We present an 11-year-old girl who manifested with unprovoked right-sided focal motor seizures. CT revealed a large lobulated hypodense mass in the left temporoparietal lobe, with perilesional oedema and postcontrast peripheral enhancement. Diagnostic uncertainty resulted in further neuroimaging, which included MRI with modalities including diffusion-weighted imaging, perfusion imaging, as well as spectroscopy. We discuss the radiological features of the lesion, which steered us in the direction of an infective cause. Definitive diagnosis was achieved by brain needle biopsy, which demonstrated necrotising granulomatous inflammation indicative of tuberculous infection on histology. In addition, GeneXpert yielded a positive result. We believe this unique case highlights the diagnostic dilemma clinicians face in differentiating ring-enhancing lesions on neuroimaging in tuberculosis-endemic regions. It also highlights the potential benefit of a brain needle biopsy (histology and GeneXpert) in cases of uncertainty.

[A case of brain tuberculoma resembling a malignant tumor].

A 35-year-old Sudanese man experienced bitter tastes on the right side of his tongue from January 2012. He was admitted to our hospital in March 2012 because of the appearance of distress, right facial palsy, nausea, and dizziness from late February 2012. A neurological examination revealed Bruns nystagmus, which increased on rightward gaze, as well as total hypoesthesia in the distribution of the maxillary branch of the right trigeminal nerve, moderate right peripheral type facial nerve palsy, and limb ataxia on the right side. Neither muscle weakness nor sensory disturbance was observed. Slight hyperreflexia was noted in the right extremities, and bilateral plantar responses were flexor. He showed wide-based ataxic gait and was unable to do tandem gait. Brain CT scans and magnetic resonance (MR) images revealed a mass lesion in the right pons to the right middle cerebellar peduncle with ring enhancement, suggestive of a "target" sign. Laboratory tests, including hematological and biochemical analyses, tumor markers, and antibodies, had normal values while the tuberculin reaction and QuantiFERON-TB Gold were strongly positive. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed a slight increase in the protein level (76 mg/dl) with a normal cell count (2 per µl), and polymerase chain reaction-based tests and cultures were negative for Mycobacterium tuberculosis three times. Right subclavicular lymph node and right adrenal gland showed accumulation of fluorodeoxyglucose on positron emission tomography-CT, as did the mass lesion in the brainstem. These findings suggested a possibility of a metastatic malignant tumor or extrapleural tuberculoma. Because of the patient's religious belief, we were unable to perform a biopsy of the lymph node, and thus administered anti-tuberculous drugs. With treatment, his neurological symptoms such as facial palsy and ataxia improved steadily except for paradoxical worsening for the initial five days, and the gadolinium-enhanced lesion shrunk markedly. Follow-up MR images demonstrated that the lesions did not expand further for 9 months. From this course of treatment, we diagnosed the patient's tumor as brainstem tuberculoma. Brain tuberculoma sometimes resembles a malignant tumor, and it is therefore challenging to diagnose brainstem tuberculosis in cases without lung lesions. It is important to make a comprehensive diagnosis based on the patient's background, imaging, and course of treatment, and to treat brainstem tuberculoma promptly.

MRI in intracranial tuberculosis: Have we seen it all?

Tuberculosis is emerging worldwide across diverse populations and geographies; unrestricted by the social divide and the geographical barriers in today's interconnected world. This rise in its prevalence can be linked to multiple factors including urbanisation, spurt in global travel, population explosion, migration and HIV infection. The varied and complex clinical presentation of intracranial tuberculosis tricks even the best of the clinicians. This along with the other facets associated with its management including drug resistance, paradoxical reaction, underlying HIV infection can make it particularly challenging. Imaging has a definitive role in the evaluation and follow-up of intracranial tuberculosis and MRI is the cornerstone in this regard. Typical features of intracranial tuberculosis are well-described. However, it is not infrequent to encounter atypical and bizarre presentations, both clinically and on imaging. A holistic clinical and imaging review of difficult cases, including newer MRI techniques, is necessary for the neuroradiologist, neurologist and the neurosurgeon to arrive at the right diagnosis in a timely fashion.

Multiple tuberculomas in an immunocompetent patient and their diagnostic challenge in a high prevalence country: Case report and literature review.

CONTEXT: Intracranial tuberculomas are rare yet lethal forms of tuberculosis. Diagnosis is often difficult because of its nonspecific symptoms and radiological findings. AIM: This study aims to perform a literature review of multiple tuberculomas to improve disease recognition and management in immunocompetent patients along with presenting a case report on the topic. DATA SOURCES: Scopus, LILACS, Ovid MEDLINE and EMBASE. STUDY SELECTION: Case reports and case series up to December 2018 in English, Spanish, and Portuguese focusing on intracranial tuberculomas in adult and pediatric immunocompetent patients. Data on presentation, diagnostic workup, and treatment was analyzed. DATA EXTRACTION: Cochrane Collaboration/Cochrane Handbook and PRISMA guidelines. RESULTS: Twenty reports involving 21 patients were included. Most patients were male (57.14%). The average age at diagnosis was 26.9 ± 14.9 years. Headache was the most common presenting symptom (52.4%; 11/21), followed by motor weakness (47.6%; 10/21) and vomiting (23.8%; 5/21). MRI was the most used image technique (17/21). Most lesions occurring in the cerebral hemispheres (16/21); we found five or more lesions in 66.6% (14/21) of the patients. The majority treated with anti-tuberculous drugs resulted in a favorable outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Immunocompetent patients living in TB endemic areas whose clinical evaluation and neuroimaging findings are compatible with tuberculoma should undergo anti-tubercular treatment despite a lack of bacteriological confirmation.

Brainstem tuberculoma: A delayed IRIS.

We describe a twenty six years old lady with tuberculous meningitis who developed new onset left ptosis and binocular diplopia with features of left fascicular 3rd nerve palsy after 9 months of anti tubercular therapy (ATT) and imaging revealed new onset tuberculoma in the mid-brain. Tuberculoma responded to steroids while continuing ATT. Formation of new tuberculoma as a part of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) is possible even after prolonged therapy of 9 months, which responded well to only steroids without altering ATT.

Neurocysticercosis or tuberculoma - Which one has more epileptic potential?

PURPOSE: The duration of antiepileptic drug (AED) treatment in the management of seizures due to ring enhancing lesions (REL) remains a matter of debate. We undertook a prospective cohort study to look into the seizure patterns and incidence of recurrence in association with two of the most common causes of RELs after gradually stopping AEDs at least 18 months after acheiving seizure control. METHODS: Ninety patients with neurocysticercosis (NCC) and twenty-nine patients with tuberculoma were treated with anti-helminthic and anti-tubercular drugs according to current recommended guidelines, and followed up for a minimum of 2 years after the last seizure free day. In every patient included in the study, AEDs were tapered within six months of attaining a seizure-free interval of 18 months. We looked at the incidence of recurrent seizures after stopping AEDs in both groups of patients. RESULTS: The frequency of baseline seizures (2.1 vs 1.5 per year, p < 0.001) and number of antiepileptic drugs (2.12 vs 1.48, p < 0.001) were greater in patients with NCC than those with tuberculoma. Patients with NCC had a greater incidence of recurrent seizures (1.17 vs 0.07 in the next six months, p < 0.001) after stopping the AEDs. The median interval to seizure recurrence after stopping AEDs was 2.2 months in patients with NCC. CONCLUSIONS: Among RELs, NCC lesions have a greater epileptogenic potential than tuberculomas. AEDs can be tapered in patients with tuberculoma after a seizure free period of 18 months with a very low risk of recurrence.

Presentation and outcome of patients with intracranial tuberculoma in a high HIV prevalence setting.

SETTING: A referral hospital in South Africa.OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical presentation, serial brain imaging findings during treatment and outcome of patients with intracranial tuberculoma in a high human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalence setting.DESIGN: This was a retrospective observational study conducted over a 12.5-year period. Records of adults (age ≥18 years) who presented with neurological TB were screened. We included patients with tuberculoma in whom sequential brain imaging was performed.RESULTS: Of 66 patients enrolled, HIV status was known in 61; 47 (71%) were HIV-infected and 14 (21%) were non-HIV-infected. Clinical and imaging findings and outcomes were similar between these groups. Persistent tuberculoma was present at 18 months follow-up in 20/41 (49%) patients who underwent repeat imaging at that timepoint; those with persistent tuberculoma were more likely to have persisting neurological abnormalities (85% vs. 52%; P = 0.043). Larger tuberculoma size at presentation (≥3 cm) was the only factor significantly associated with tuberculoma persistence (multivariable logistic regression, OR 19.9, 95%CI 1.27-309.68; P = 0.033).CONCLUSION: Tuberculoma is a severely disabling TB manifestation regardless of HIV coinfection, with half of patients showing radiologically persistent lesions at 18 months follow-up. Large size of tuberculoma at presentation heralds lower chance of its resolution within 18 months.

Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome in non-HIV patients with tuberculosis. A case series.

Tuberculosis associated Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) in a HIV negative patient can present with a multitude of clinic-radiological presentations that are often confused with drug resistance/treatment failure. Being a diagnosis of exclusion, this clinical entity is often prone to under-diagnosis. We present a series of 5 patients who presented with varied but uncommon IRIS manifestations. High index of suspicion coupled with clinical reasoning and judicious use of phenotypic and genotypic culture methods helped in their timely detection and successful treatment.

Pineal Region Tuberculoma Caused by Mycobacterium bovis as a Complication of Bacille Calmette-Guérin Vaccine: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND: Brain tuberculoma is a rare manifestation of tuberculosis especially in immunosuppressed patients. The definitive diagnosis may be difficult owing to mimicking brain tumors and the absence of the common presentation. Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine is used for protection against tuberculous meningitis and miliary disease, more so in children, and also for the treatment of bladder cancer. CASE DESCRIPTION: The following case of brain tuberculoma is a boy aged 6 months who was presented to our hospital with poor feeding, nausea and vomiting, and confusion lasting 1 month. A brain magnetic resonance imaging scan showed a large mass lesion in the pineal region with generalized hydrocephaly in which polymerase chain reaction assays of the tissue was positive for Mycobacterium bovis and had a good response to antituberculosis drugs and surgery. CONCLUSIONS: We present a case of brain tuberculoma as the complication of BCG vaccine. To our knowledge, this case is the first case of brain tuberculoma after BCG vaccination. We should consider brain tuberculoma that presents with a similar presentation in any infants with a history of BCG vaccination.

[Cerebral tuberculoma a diagnostic challenge: case study and update]. / Tuberculome cérébral un challenge diagnostic: à propos d'un cas et mise au point.

Central nervous system (CNS) tuberculosis is the second most common presentation after tuberculous meningitis. It is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the developing countries, accounting for 10-30% of intracranial expansive lesions in these countries against 0.2% in some Western countries. This study aims to report an atypical clinical and radiological manifestation (brain MRI and spectroscopy) of cerebral tuberculoma in order to provide an update on this infectious disease. The study involved a 44-year old female patient with no particular previous history, with headaches persisting for 1 year and complicated by partial secondarily generalized seizures and heaviness at the left hemicorpus with episodes of vomiting without visual disorder or fever or deterioration of general condition after 8 months. Clinical examination showed conscious patient with Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) 15, equal and reactive pupils, walking and/or standing without fault, with 4/5 left-sided hemiparesis without other neurological signs. Brain MRI objectified right parietal subtentorial plurilobulated isointense poorly differentiated lesion on T1 weighted sequence without contrast agents injection and heterogeneous lesion with hyperintense edge and hypointense fundus, suggesting fleshy process with areas of central necrosis and perilesionnal edema extending in finger-like fashion with intense annular enhancement after gadolinium injection on T2 weighted sequence. Spectroscopy showed glial tumor. The patient received anticonvulsant therapy and macroscopic complete resection. Anatomopathologic analysis showed cerebral tuberculoma. She received antituberculosis drugs with seizure stoppage and deficit recovery after 4 weeks. This study highlights the clinical and radiological polymorphism of cerebral tuberculoma. This is suspected based on laboratory tests as well as on a body of clinical and radiological evidences but definitive diagnosis is based on anatomopathologic analysis. Early management is essential because complications can be severe and result in a poor prognosis.

Spectrum of central nervous system tuberculosis: An experience from a large tertiary care institution of India.

OBJECTIVES: Central nervous system (CNS) is an important site for extrapulmonary tuberculosis. The present study evaluated the spectrum of CNS tuberculosis in a high tuberculosis endemic region. METHODS: The study included 306 cases of CNS tuberculosis. All cases were assessed for clinical evaluation and neuroimaging. All cases were followed up for 3 months. Modified Barthel index was used to assess the outcome. RESULTS: Out of 306 cases of CNS tuberculosis, 174 (56.86%) had intracranial tuberculosis, 55 (17.97%) had spinal tuberculosis, 15 (4.91%) had both intracranial and spinal pathology. Sixty-two (20.26%) patients had disseminated tuberculosis. Two-hundred and fourteen (69.9%) cases had tuberculous meningitis. Disseminated tuberculosis patients had significantly poor modified Barthel index and 3-month outcome. Culture positivity was significantly higher in the disseminated group. Ten (27.02%) out of 37 culture positive tuberculous meningitis cases had multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis. On multivariate analysis disseminated tuberculosis, baseline modified Barthel index ≤12, and stage 3 predicted poor outcome. Fifty-five patients had spinal tuberculosis. Thirty-four (75.56%) patients with Pott's spine improved with antituberculosis treatment and only 11 (24.44%) patients had modified Barthel index ≤12, after 3 months. CONCLUSIONS: In tuberculosis-endemic areas a varied form of CNS tuberculosis is frequent. CNS tuberculosis is often part of disseminated tuberculosis.