Disseminated cerebral and spinal tuberculomas: rare cause of triparesis

BMJ Case Rep. 2013 Apr 19:2013:bcr2013009481. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2013-009481.

Abstract

Tuberculosis continues to remain a significant public health problem in developing nations, causing substantial morbidity and mortality. Central nervous system (CNS) tuberculosis is frequently observed in endemic zones of tuberculosis including India. The emergence of infections like HIV and malnutrition ruined the public health measures to restrain tuberculosis in developing countries. The incidence of intraspinal tuberculomas is reported to be 0.2-5% among CNS tuberculomas. To date, only a few cases have been reported of mixed intraspinal and intracranial tuberculomas. The clinical outcome in CNS disseminated tuberculomas is not well described in the literature. With this view, we report a case of a 25-year-old woman who presented with neck pain, triparesis and bladder incontinence, which finally proved to be a case of multiple cerebral and spinal tuberculomas. The antitubercular treatment with steroids and other supportive measures resulted in good recovery.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antitubercular Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Paralysis / drug therapy*
  • Paralysis / etiology*
  • Tuberculosis, Central Nervous System / diagnosis*
  • Tuberculosis, Central Nervous System / drug therapy*
  • Tuberculosis, Central Nervous System / physiopathology*

Substances

  • Antitubercular Agents