Central nervous system tuberculoma mimicking a brain tumor: A case report

Abstract

The central nervous system (CNS) is a rare but serious site of tuberculosis spread that manifests in three forms: meningitis, spinal arachnoiditis, and CNS tuberculoma. CNS tuberculoma, or intracranial tuberculous granuloma, is a caseating or non-caseating granulomatous reaction within the brain parenchyma that may mimic a brain tumor. We present the case of a 10-year-old male patient with a travel history to Western Africa who presented to our institution after his fourth tonic-clonic seizure over 2 months. MRI of the brain revealed a solitary cortical/subcortical enhancing intracranial mass with intralesional hemorrhage and mineralization, pathologically proven to represent a CNS tuberculoma. While rare, this etiology should be considered with the appropriate travel history and for which prompt treatment may improve outcomes in the pediatric population.

Keywords

• Central Nervous System (CNS)
• Tuberculoma
• Tuberculosis