Tuberculoma of the brain: a series of 16 cases treated with anti-tuberculosis drugs

Abstract

Objectives: To describe the clinical presentation, radiological findings and outcome of treatment with antituberculosis drugs in 16 cases of intracranial tuberculoma.

Design: Consecutive cases admitted with tuberculoma to the National Center for Neurological Diseases in Khartoum, Sudan, were included in the study. The diagnosis was based on clinical and neuro-imaging features and response to anti-tuberculosis treatment. Histopathology of material from the brain or other extracranial tissues was available in seven cases.

Results and conclusions: The commonest presenting features were headache (100%), generalized convulsions (68.7%) and hemiparesis (56.2%). Computerised axial tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (CT/MRI) showed single or multiple lesions that showed intense contrast enhancement and perilesional edema. The lesions completely cleared on anti-tuberculosis treatment in the majority of survivors (13/15). Partial clearance of lesion was associated with late presentation, multiple large lesions and advanced miliary disease. We advocate early empirical trial of anti-tuberculosis drugs for intracranial tuberculoma even after a presumptive diagnosis, particularly in areas where the infection is endemic.