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Case Reports
. 2012 Oct;7(4):223-6.
doi: 10.4103/1793-5482.106661.

A rare case of intramedullary tuberculoma: Complete resolution after medical treatment and role of magnetic resonance imaging in diagnosis and follow-up

Suresh Chidambaram Thirunavukarasu  1 , Arunkumar Ramachandrappa
Affiliations
Case Reports

A rare case of intramedullary tuberculoma: Complete resolution after medical treatment and role of magnetic resonance imaging in diagnosis and follow-up

Suresh Chidambaram Thirunavukarasu et al. Asian J Neurosurg. 2012 Oct.

Abstract

Intramedullary tuberculoma (IMT) is a rare form of spinal tuberculosis. IMT has an incidence of 2 cases per 2000 cases of central nervous system tuberculosis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be helpful for diagnosing IMT at an early stage and it is also very useful in follow-up. Three stages of IMT have been described in MRI based on the evolution of the lesion. Medical therapy is the mainstay of treatment for IMT though there are surgical options for select patients. Here, we describe a patient with dorsal IMT who improved clinically as well as radiologically with antituberculous treatment and steroids.

Keywords: Complete resolution; intramedullary tuberculoma; magnetic resonance imaging; medical treatment.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
T1 contrast coronal image showing the ring-enhancing lesion and its dimensions, and the arrows at the right side showing apical tuberculosis
Figure 2
Figure 2
T2-weighted sagittal image showing the lesion at D5 level, indicated by central arrow, and the extent of cord edema is delineated by the top and lower arrow heads
Figure 3
Figure 3
T1 contrast sagittal image showing the ring-enhancing lesion at D5 level
Figure 4
Figure 4
T2 sagittal image taken 2 months later showing decrease in the size (arrow marked) of the lesion as well as gross reduction of cord edema
Figure 5
Figure 5
T1 contrast image showing decrease in size of the lesion when compared to the images taken 2 months ago
Figure 6
Figure 6
T2-weighted image taken 6 months later showing complete disappearance of the lesion
Figure 7
Figure 7
T1 contrast image showing no abnormal enhancement in the cord, indicating complete resolution of the lesion
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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