An intradural extramedullary tuberculoma of the spinal cord in a non-HIV-infected patient: case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Spinal tuberculomas are extrapulmonary manifestations of tuberculosis involving the central nervous system. They are characterized as extradural, intradural extramedullary, or intradural, according to their location. Intradural extramedullary tuberculomas are extremely rare. There have been only 24 case reports found in English language literature. Our case is the only documented intradural extramedullary tuberculoma in a non-HIV-infected patient in North America. A literature review using a Medline search from 1966 to the present is performed to characterize the clinical spectrum of the three types of tuberculomas and review the diagnosis and management of this potentially curable disease. An analysis of the cases of intradural extramedullary tuberculomas published since 1984 is performed to highlight the unique characteristics of this rare disease.