Transverse myelitis in a 26-year-old male with tuberculosis

Edlira Harizi, MD; Kledisa Shemsi, MD; Erisa Kola, MD; Fjolla Hyseni, MD; Ina Kola, MD; Mohammad Abubaker Siddique, MD; Jafor Sadeque, MD; Arlind Decka, MD; Migena Dervishi, MD; Fareeha Nasir, MD; Livia Capi, MD; Ivan Ayala, MD; Ammy Shankar Ghosh, MD; Sanzida Sharmin Swarna, MD; Juna Musa, MD, MBBS; Ilir Ahmetgjekaj, MD, PhD

Radiology Case Reports (Oct 2022)

Transverse myelitis in a 26-year-old male with tuberculosis

Edlira Harizi, MD,
Kledisa Shemsi, MD,
Erisa Kola, MD,
Fjolla Hyseni, MD,
Ina Kola, MD,
Mohammad Abubaker Siddique, MD,
Jafor Sadeque, MD,
Arlind Decka, MD,
Migena Dervishi, MD,
Fareeha Nasir, MD,
Livia Capi, MD,
Ivan Ayala, MD,
Ammy Shankar Ghosh, MD,
Sanzida Sharmin Swarna, MD,
Juna Musa, MD, MBBS,
Ilir Ahmetgjekaj, MD, PhD

Affiliations

Edlira Harizi, MD: Neurology Department, Regional Hospital Durres, Albania; Corresponding author.
Kledisa Shemsi, MD: General Practitioner Doctor, Tirana, Albania
Erisa Kola, MD: Department of Pathology, Gjirokaster Hospital, Albania
Fjolla Hyseni, MD: Department of Pediatrics, NYU Langone Health, NY, USA
Ina Kola, MD: Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, Tirana, Albania
Mohammad Abubaker Siddique, MD: North East Medical college & Hospital, Sylhet, Bangladesh
Jafor Sadeque, MD: Al mostaqbal hospital, Jeddah, KSA
Arlind Decka, MD: Department of General Surgery, Westchester Medical Center, Valhalla, NY, USA
Migena Dervishi, MD: Psychiatry Research Institute-Albert Einstein College of Medicine, NY, USA
Fareeha Nasir, MD: Department of Internal Medicine, Harlem Hospital Center, NY, USA
Livia Capi, MD: University of Medicine of Tirana, Albania
Ivan Ayala, MD: KER Unit, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
Ammy Shankar Ghosh, MD: Michigan state University, USA
Sanzida Sharmin Swarna, MD: Department of Addiction Medicine, Research assistant VA Hospital, Palo Alto, CA, USA
Juna Musa, MD, MBBS: Department of Endocrinology, Diabetic and nutrition, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
Ilir Ahmetgjekaj, MD, PhD: Department of Radiology, UBT and UCC, Pristina, Kosovo

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 17, no. 10
pp. 3669 – 3673

Abstract

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Acute transverse myelitis is an inflammatory condition covering the entire cross section of the spinal cord, spreading on two or more vertebral segments, without evidence of a compressive lesion. This shows clinically as an acute or subacute onset of paraparesis, lower limb paresthesia, sensory deficits, and impaired sphincter function. Mycobacterium tuberculosis is exceedingly rare cause of this inflammation, with a mechanism still not fully understood. The main etiologies are thought to be an abnormal activation of the immune system against the neuronal cells of the medulla, direct inoculation of the bacillus, and the toxic effect of the antitubercular medications on the spinal cord.We present the case of a 26-year-old male patient with acute symptoms of transverse myelitis and presence of miliary tuberculosis of the lungs. The purpose of this case report is to put the emphasis on the importance of distinguishing the characteristics of tubercular lesions on imaging modalities, especially on magnetic resonance imaging, in the differential diagnosis of tuberculosis as a rare but profoundly serious cause of acute transverse myelitis.

Published in Radiology Case Reports

ISSN: 1930-0433 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Medicine: Medicine (General): Medical physics. Medical radiology. Nuclear medicine
Website: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/radiology-case-reports

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