Badran Saif A, Mohammad Qasim Aous, Thakir Ismail Mohammed, Shahadha Ali, Al-Juboori Ahmed A
Department of Surgery, Ibn Sina University of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Baghdad, IRQ.
Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Ninevah University, Mosul, IRQ.
Cureus. 2024 Dec 6;16(12):e75218. doi: 10.7759/cureus.75218. eCollection 2024 Dec.
Tuberculosis (TB) affecting the central nervous system (CNS) is rare, often mimicking other intracranial pathologies such as meningiomas, especially when located in the anterior skull base. Despite a global reduction in TB incidence, CNS TB continues to present diagnostic challenges due to its nonspecific imaging characteristics. We report a case of a 39-year-old male with symptoms including persistent headache, vertigo, and visual disturbances. Initial imaging suggested meningioma; however, histopathology revealed a tuberculoma. The patient responded well to antitubercular therapy following surgery. This case emphasizes the necessity of considering TB in differential diagnoses of intracranial lesions, especially in endemic regions, to prevent misdiagnosis and ensure timely treatment. CNS TB, though rare, should be a differential consideration in intracranial lesions to avoid delays in diagnosis and improve clinical outcomes.
影响中枢神经系统(CNS)的结核病(TB)很罕见,常表现得与其他颅内病变相似,如脑膜瘤,尤其是位于前颅底时。尽管全球结核病发病率有所下降,但由于其非特异性影像学特征,中枢神经系统结核病在诊断上仍面临挑战。我们报告一例39岁男性病例,其症状包括持续性头痛、眩晕和视觉障碍。最初的影像学检查提示为脑膜瘤;然而,组织病理学检查显示为结核瘤。该患者术后对抗结核治疗反应良好。该病例强调了在颅内病变的鉴别诊断中考虑结核病的必要性,尤其是在流行地区,以防止误诊并确保及时治疗。中枢神经系统结核病虽然罕见,但在颅内病变的鉴别诊断中应予以考虑,以避免诊断延误并改善临床结局。