Cerebral tuberculoma and convulsion in infants: A case report

Abstract

Tuberculosis of the central nervous system is the second most common site after tuberculous meningitis. It represents 0.2% of intracranial expansive lesions in some Western countries compared to 10%-30% in developing countries. We report the case of an infant of 1 year and 2 months old who presented for 15 days with convulsions with asthenia, hypotonia, without fever. The clinical examination and laboratory workup were without abnormalities. His father had ongoing pulmonary tuberculosis, but the infant had no clinical or radiological signs of pulmonary tuberculosis. A brain MRI was showed multiple punctiform brain lesions, suggesting intracerebral tuberculomas in the first place, given the clinical and radiological appearance and the father's history of tuberculosis. The patient was put on anti-convulsant and antibacillary treatment. Through this case, we can see the clinical and radiological polymorphism of cerebral tuberculoma. The diagnosis of certainty remains anatomopathological. The prognosis is poor when it is detected late.

Keywords

• Cerebral tuberculoma
• Infant
• Brain MRI
• Diagnosis