Abstract
Partial seizures can be due to a growing cerebral lesion, which may be tumoral or inflammatory/infectious in nature. The differential diagnosis is obviously important; increasing immigration to Europe from Africa is leading to an increase of infectious disease involving also the central nervous system. The authors report imaging the a case of a brain tuberculoma due to Mycobacterium africanum mimicking brain tumor, in which diagnosis was possible by inoculum in guinea-pig of material obtained by mediastinal biopsy of enlarged lymph nodes. Specific treatment led to marked reduction in the size of the brain lesion.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bernaerts A, Vanhoenacker FM, Parizel PM, Van Goethem JW, Van Altena R, Laridon A, De Roeck J, Coeman V, De Schepper AM (2003) Tuberculosis of the central nervous system: overview of neuroradiological findings. Eur Radiol 13(8):1876–1890 Review
Cataño JC (2007) Images in clinical medicine. Cerebral tuberculoma. N Engl J Med 57(21):2166
Giese A, Kucinski T, Hagel C, Lohmann F (2003) Intracranial tuberculomas mimicking a malignant disease in an immunocompetent patient. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 145(6):513–517 discussion 517
Qin L, Zheng R, Fan C, Cai J, Liu Z, Wang J, Lu J, Jin R, Yang H, Cui Z, Feng Y, Hu Z (2010) Identification and evaluation of a new nucleic acid amplification test target for specific detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Clin Chem Lab Med 48(10):1501–1505
Cheng VCC, Yew WW, Yuen KY (2005) Molecular diagnostics in tuberculosis. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 24:711–720
Laraque F, Griggs A, Slopen M, Munsiff SS (2009) Performance of nucleic acid amplification tests for diagnosis of tuberculosis in a large urban setting. Clin Infect Dis 49(1):46–54
Poonnoose SI, Singh S, Rajshekhar V (2004) Giant cerebellar tuberculoma mimicking a malignant tumour. Neuroradiology 46(2):136–139
Del Brutto OH, Mosquera A (1999) Brainstem tuberculoma mimicking glioma: the role of antituberculous drugs as a diagnostic tool. Neurology 52(1):210–211
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Botturi, A., Prodi, E., Silvani, A. et al. Brain tuberculoma (Mycobacterium africanum): high index of suspicion helps in avoiding biopsy/surgery. Neurol Sci 33, 363–365 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-011-0742-x
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-011-0742-x