Diagnosis and management of intracranial tuberculomas: about 2 cases and a review of the literature

Surgical Management of Tuberculosis-related Cerebral Disorders: A Retrospective Single-center Study

BACKGROUND

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant global health concern, with extrapulmonary manifestations, including central nervous system involvement, posing substantial morbidity and mortality. While medical treatment with anti-TB drugs is the mainstay of therapy, certain TB-related cerebral complications, such as hydrocephalus, abscesses, and large symptomatic tuberculomas, may require surgical intervention. This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of surgical management in patients with TB-related cerebral disorders.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was conducted on 24 patients who underwent surgical intervention for TB-related cerebral disorders, including tuberculomas, hydrocephalus, and abscesses, at a tertiary care center between 2005 and December 2020. Demographic data, clinical presentations, radiological findings, surgical techniques, and treatment outcomes were analyzed.

RESULTS

The study cohort had a mean age of 35.8 ± 13.6 years, and the majority (62.5%) were male. Underlying immunodeficiency, primarily HIV infection, was present in 75% of the patients. The most common presenting symptoms were headache (83.3%), focal neurological deficits (75%), and altered mental status (54.2%). Radiological findings revealed 13 (54.2%) tuberculomas, 8 (33.3%) instances of hydrocephalus, and 3 (12.5%) abscesses. VP shunt inserted in 8 (33.3%) cases. Microscopic craniotomy performed in 7 (29.16%) cases. Aspiration through burr hole was done in 3 (12.5%) cases and stereotactic biopsy was performed in 6 (25%) cases. After 12 months of follow-up, favorable outcome achieved in 18 cases (75%) and the mortality occurred in 2 patients (8.3%). Surgical interventions included lesion resection (n = 10), stereotactic biopsy (n = 7), and ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt placement (n = 7). At 12-month follow-up, 18 (75%) patients had a favorable outcome, defined as clinical improvement or stabilization. Unfavorable outcomes were observed in 6 (25%) patients, including 2 deaths.

CONCLUSION

Surgical management, in conjunction with appropriate anti-TB medical therapy, may be a valuable component of the comprehensive treatment approach for select patients with TB-related cerebral disorders. The favorable outcome rate observed in this study suggests that timely and tailored surgical intervention can contribute to improved patient outcomes. However, larger, prospective, multicenter studies are needed to further elucidate the role and long-term efficacy of surgical management in this patient population.

Unusual presentation of miliary tuberculosis in a 12-year-old girl: a case report

BACKGROUND

Miliary tuberculosis (TB) is a lethal hematogenous spread form of mycobacterium tuberculosis with approximately 15-20% mortality rate in children. The present report highlights the clinical manifestations of an unusual presentation of miliary tuberculosis in a 12-year-old girl.

CASE PRESENTATION

In this case, extensive lung involvement was presented despite the absence of respiratory symptoms. Also, some central hypo-intense with hyper-intense rim nodules were detected in the brain's pons, right cerebral peduncles and lentiform nucleus.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study showed that severe miliary TB may occur even in a person who received the Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine.

Granulomatous Diseases of the Central Nervous System

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To discuss the pathophysiology, key clinical features, necessary diagnostic evaluation, and current treatment regimens for granulomatous diseases of the central nervous system.

RECENT FINDINGS

The diagnosis and management of granulomatous disease of the central nervous system has been revolutionized by advances in diagnostic imaging. Nevertheless, tissue and/or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sampling remains necessary to establish the diagnosis in most cases. Establishing a specific diagnosis is critical because treatment selection needs to focus on the granulomatous process centering on either antibiotic or immunosuppressive agents. Particular for non-infectious granulomatous disease more aggressive immunotherapies may help in clinical outcome. There are multiple non-infectious and infectious etiologies for granulomatous disease of the central nervous system. Clinical manifestations result from local structural invasion of granulomas or granulomatous inflammation of the blood vessels and meninges. Rapid diagnosis and specific treatment is essential.

Case report: Depressive disorder with peripartum onset camouflages suspected intracranial tuberculoma

BACKGROUND

Co-occuring psychological symptoms and rare medical illnesses like intracranial tuberculoma add difficulties in diagnosing and treatment. The present report discussed a rare case of a young woman with tuberculoma and depressive disorder with peripartum onset.

CASE PRESENTATION

The patient was a 22-year-old woman. She underwent a cesarean section due to premature rupture of the membrane. She had developed behavioral changes for 3 months before admission and had been brought to general practitioner for several times during pregnancy. Her symptoms worsen after she underwent a cesarean section. She refused to answer doctor's and family's questions and she showed symptoms of depression. She was diagnosed with depressive disorder with peripartum onset and treated according to her diagnosis. However, she also experienced intermittent headaches which lead to suspicion that there was an organic cause for her complaints. Computed tomography (CT) was done and revealed suspected intracranial tuberculoma and meningitis. She died due to respiratory distress before she got adequate treatment for her illnesses.

CONCLUSION

The possibility of neurocognitive disorder due to infection such as intracranial tuberculoma should be considered as an additional diagnosis (co-occuring disease) or differential diagnosis in people who develop psychiatric symptoms, especially in areas with high tuberculosis incidence.

Relationship between magnetic resonance imaging findings and prognosis of intracranial tuberculosis

BACKGROUND

Intracranial tuberculosis (TB) is an intracranial infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), in particular enhanced MRI scan, has the ability to detect characteristic lesions of tuberculous meningitis or cerebral parenchymal TB.

PURPOSE

To analyze the relationship between MRI findings and prognosis of patients with intracranial TB.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In this retrospective study, a total of 60 patients were confirmed with intracranial TB in the hospital from May 2019 to December 2020. All enrolled patients underwent TB-related laboratory examinations, cranial MRI, and contrast-enhanced MRI. Laboratory tests were analyzed and the relationship between clinical prognosis and cranial MRI features was evaluated.

RESULTS

Of the 60 patients, 28 (46.67%) had disseminated TB complications, 20 (36.67%) had secondary TB complications, and the remaining 10 (16.66%) had lymphatic TB or spinal TB complications. Of the patients, 25 had good short-term prognosis and 35 had poor short-term prognosis; 44 patients had good long-term prognosis and 16 had poor long-term prognosis. The incidence of cerebral parenchymal tuberculomas on enhanced MRI was significantly higher in the group with good prognosis compared to that in the group with poor prognosis (P < 0.05). Logistic analysis suggested that hydrocephalus (odds ratio [OR] = 0.057, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.003-0.444; P = 0.018) and cistern involvement (OR = 0.100, 95% CI = 0.011-0.581; P = 0.017) were independent risk factors for poor short-term prognosis.

CONCLUSION

MRI can display the pathological changes of intracranial TB in detail; hydrocephalus and cistern involvement were independent risk factors for poor short-term prognosis.

Clair EG, Sadr A, Feinberg M. Presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of a cerebellar tuberculoma: illustrative case

BACKGROUND

Central nervous system (CNS) tuberculomas are a feared complication of tuberculosis (TB) infection. These lesions can present in varying manners and are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Prompt diagnosis and treatment of the lesion and the underlying infection are critical in the care of these patients. The authors presented a case of a 45-year-old Yemeni immigrant presenting with a 3-month history of severe right temporo-occipital headaches with photophobia and night sweats. Imaging showed a rim-enhancing lesion in the right cerebellar hemisphere.

OBSERVATIONS

Laboratory tests were unremarkable and within normal limits. QuantiFERON testing was negative, ruling out latent TB infection. The patient received a suboccipital craniotomy, and resection of the cerebellar lesion showed caseating granuloma formation, which was positive for acid-fast bacilli and Fite stain.

LESSONS

CNS tuberculomas are an important differential to consider in patients with a history of primary TB, regardless of active disease or immunocompetent status. Resection of these lesions remains a viable treatment option that is safe and effective.

Intracranial tuberculomas: A case report of clinical, radiological, and pathological characteristics

Background

Intracranial tuberculomas are uncommon yet devastating forms of extrapulmonary tuberculosis with a high mortality rate and morbidity risk. A high level of suspicion is required for a prompt diagnosis and treatment.

Case description

A 67-year-old male, medically free, presented at the Emergency Department with a 1-day history of nausea and vomiting, and a 15-day history of imbalance and dizziness. Radiological imaging demonstrated right well-defined ring-enhancing lesions. He underwent a sup-occipital craniotomy with lesion resection. The diagnosis of an intracranial tuberculoma was confirmed histopathologically. Anti-tuberculosis therapy was prescribed, and the patient was discharged with mild cerebellar dysfunction.

Discussion

Intracranial tuberculomas have a high rate of mortality and morbidity. It is critical to consider tuberculoma in the differential diagnosis of intracranial lesions with such clinico-radiological characteristics, especially in developing countries.

Conclusion

In this article, we are reporting an interesting case with multiple intracranial tuberculomas with an extensive review of the literature.

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Fever and leukocytosis can be absent upon the initial presentation of intracranial tuberculomas.

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Immunocompetent patients can present with intracranial tuberculoma as the initial presentation of tuberculosis.

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Intracranial tuberculoma can present as single/multiple lesion/s with radiological appearance similar to intracranial neoplasms.

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The indistinct radiological findings of intracranial tuberculoma can be due to the different stages of maturation.

Tuberculoma mimicking postoperative VP shunt seeding of craniopharyngioma: A rare case report

Background

Tuberculosis (TB) is still a big problem in developing and TB endemic countries such as Indonesia. The most common manifestations of TB in the central nervous system are tuberculous meningitis and tuberculoma. In developing and TB endemic countries, tuberculomas account for 33% of intracranial space-occupying lesions. Isolated tuberculoma without systemic TB is rarely seen. On physical and radiological examination, tuberculoma often gives an atypical appearance. From imaging, tuberculoma often mimics another intracranial tumor. Oftentimes the accurate diagnosis can only be made after postoperative histopathological and microbiology examination.

Case Description

An 11-year-old, Indonesian girl has been complaining persistent headache in the past 3 years. The patient had a history of surgical excision of craniopharyngioma 8 years ago, and placement of ventriculoperitoneal shunt due to postoperative hydrocephalus. Patient was immunocompetent with no sign of systemic TB nor tuberculous meningitis. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a 4 × 2.3 × 2.1 cm mass surrounding the ventricular drain which was attached in the anterior horn of the right lateral ventricle to the right frontal cortex. From dynamic susceptibility contrast MRI perfusion and MR Spectroscopy suggested a process of seeding metastases surrounding the ventricular drain. Postoperative histopathological examination results were consistent with tuberculoma.

Conclusion

Tuberculoma should always be considered as one of the differential diagnoses along with primary and secondary intracranial neoplasm, particularly in developing and TB endemic countries, and inpatient with immunocompromised state.