Giant cerebellar tuberculoma mimicking a malignant tumor

Background

Isolated central nervous system (CNS) tuberculoma is rare. Central nervous system tuberculosis (TB) is associated with high morbidity and mortality despite modern methods of detection and treatment. The authors report a case of a giant cerebellar tuberculoma mimicking a malignant tumor and review the literature.

Observation

A six-year-old girl, with no past medical history, vaccinated for her age, presented with a three-month history of occipitocervical cephalalgia, complicated by gait disturbances. The MRI showed a left cerebellar tumor suggestive of a medulloblastoma. At surgery, a nodular, avascular lesion was found and pathological examination confirmed tuberculoma. Intracranial tuberculoma is an uncommon variety of central nervous system tuberculosis. The prognosis is related to the rapidity of diagnosis, surgical resection and the complementary antituberculosis treatment.

Conclusion

Intracranial tuberculoma is an uncommon variety of central nervous system infection. Prognosis is improved by a quick diagnosis, surgical removal, and associated antituberculoma therapy.     

A case of cerebral tuberculoma (author's transl)]

A 27-year-old woman was admitted to other hospital for acute pleuritis in May 1977. She suddenly had a focal epileptic seizure in the face with loss of consciousness on July 10, 1977. The same episodes of seizure occurred on Aug. 8, on Oct. 26, on Nov. 22, 1977. She was admitted to our hospital on Dec. 12, 1977. Neurological examinations showed no abnormality. Chest X-ray film showed bilateral severe thickening of the pleura. Plain skull films showed normal findings. Enhanced CT scanning showed a homogenous irregular contour of high density area surrounded by low density area in the right frontal region. The lateral ventricle was slightly shifted to the left side. 99mTc brain scan also detected a spherical abnormal uptake in this area. Right carotid angiography showed no abnormal vessels and increased vascularities. On Nov. 22, 1977, a craniotomy was made over the right fronto-temporal bone, and a walnut sized tumor in the frontal subcortex was totally removed successfully. Histologically, the tumor was diagnosed as brain tuberculoma. The antituberculous therapy (AB-PC, INAH, Rifampicin), high doses of gammabenin, and steroid were given. About four months later, she was in good health without neurologic deficits and returned to her work. The literature was reviewed, and the value of CT scan and RI scan in the diagnosis of cerebral tuberculoma was emphasized.     

A case report of intracerebral tuberculoma during antituberculous therapy

A case of multiple intracerebral tuberculoma occurred in the course of anti-tuberculous therapy is reported. A 16-year-old high school boy had been treated with isoniagid, streptomycin and paramino-salicylic acid on the tuberculous pleulitis for 3 months previously. He was admitted to our hospital because of progressive headache associated with vomiting. Neurological examination revealed bilateral full papilledema and incomplete bilateral abducens palsy. An immediate CT study with contrast enhancement demonstrated two small ring-like mass with considerable perifocal edema in the left temporal and occipital lobe, respectively. Intracerebral tuberculoma was considered to be most likely, so the patient was given antituberculous therapy with steroid and mannitol. However, despite of medical decompression, he developed intracranial hypertension aggravated, leading to removal of tumor 7 days after admission. Initially left temporal tuberculoma, which had more extensive and prominent perifocal edema, was successfully excised. The specimen was a walnut-sized granuloma with hard capsule including pus inside. Numerous tuberculous bacilli were identified with Ziel-Nielsen staining technique from the pus. Postoperative course was gratifying, and other tumor in the left occipital lobe, which was also diagnosed as tuberculoma, was treated with continuing administration of isoniagid, ethanbutol and rifampicin. However, the former two drugs were forced to be discontinued because of agranulocytosis. Only rifampicin was maintained for 2 months thereafter but no decrease of the size was observed in serial CT studies. Then left occipital tuberculoma was removed. The pathology was tuberculoma with positive bacilli staining. He discharged 1 month later without any neurological deficit but was on antituberculous therapy (rifampisin) as an outpatient for 3 years.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

A case of cerebellar neuroblastoma

A three-year-old boy with a progressive history of headache, vomiting and ataxia in the course of 2 months, was admitted on August 1983, when he was lethargic. Neurological examination revealed dysphagia, scanning speech and tremor in the bilateral hand. CT scan showed a very large enhanced mass in the center of posterior fossa with central necrosis in it and the dilatation of whole ventricular system. Suboccipital craniectomy was immediately performed and the tumor that occupied the vermis and invaded into both cerebellar hemisphere was subtotally removed. Postoperative irradiation was well performed: 4140 rads to the whole brain and 3162 rads to the spinal cord. However, 5 months later, facial palsy in the left side and progressive ataxia became prominent. CT scan showed multiple enhanced masses in the left trigonum and right anterior horn of the lateral ventricles and in the left cerebellopontine angle. In spite of chemotherapy, the patient had a down-hill course, especially after the ventricular hemorrhage, and died on June 9th, 1984. Histologically, the tumor had a lobulated appearance with an aggregation of tumor cells encircled by vascular septae. The cells within lobules generally had vesicular nuclei, which were arranged in parallel row. Occasionally smaller hyperchromatic cells with scant cytoplasm were present along the vascular septae. Reticulin was present within the septa, but was not observed within the lobules. Scattered astrocytic cells and processes were identified within the lobules by the immunoperoxidase technique for GFAP. The fibrillary cytoplasmic processes within the lobules were stained by immunoperoxidase technique for neurofilament (68K).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Intrasellar tuberculoma: case report

We report a unique case of exclusively intrasellar tuberculoma. The patient was operated on by the transsphenoidal approach, which allowed total removal of the lesion and prevented cerebrospinal fluid contamination. After histological diagnosis, the patient was treated with isoniazid, 300 mg daily for 3 months, as prophylaxis against tuberculous meningitis.     

A case of calcified intracranial tuberculoma presenting unique MRI findings

A 41-year-old male patient was admitted in our Ryukyu University Hospital complaining of parosmia. He had a history of miliary tuberculosis 21 years ago. Neurologically he showed left anosmia and hyperreflexia of the right upper extremity. Plain skull X-P and CT scan revealed a calcified mass, 25mm in diameter, at the left frontal base. In MRI, the mass showed isointensity using the T1 weighted inversion recovery sequence and heterogenously low intensity using the T2 weighted spin echo sequence. Surgery was performed by bifrontal craniotomy. Then the tumor was removed totally including two coexisting small tumors. Histologically, they consisted of calcified caseous tissue and thick collagen capsule, suggesting old calcified tuberculomas. Postoperative course was uneventful and did not result in meningitis. Antituberculous therapy of streptomycin, isoniazid and rifampin was given for 2 weeks, started on the operative day. MRI findings were presented in detail and the guideline of antituberculous therapy to the tuberculoma was discussed.     

A case of cerebellar glioblastoma with massive cerebellar hemorrhage]

A case is reported of glioblastoma multiforme (GM) of the cerebellum associated with an intracerebellar hemorrhage. A 54-year-old male was admitted to our hospital with sudden onset of headache and nausea. CT scan showed right intracerebellar hemorrhage. The patient received conservative therapy and was discharged without any neurological deficits. However a second cerebellar hemorrhage attacked him ten days after discharge. His level of consciousness deteriorating, he underwent suboccipital craniectomy and the hematoma with the surrounding elastic tissues was excised. There were no findings suggesting hemorrhage within the tumor on the preoperative neuroimagings, but histological examination confirmed GM with massive hemorrhage. To our knowledge, only 2 cases of cerebellar GM with massive hemorrhage have been reported in the literature. Our case indicates cerebellar GM should be taken into account as a possible cause of cerebellar hemorrhage.     

A case of hepatocellular carcinoma with tuberculoma within tumor tissue

We made a diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma and performed partial resection of the liver in a 72 year-old woman. Granulomas were observed within hepatocellular carcinoma in the surgical specimen. Microscopic findings demonstrated the granulomas particularly within the tumor, and showed that they were composed of epithelioid cells with caseous necrosis. These tuberculomas compressed the tumor cells, and many lymphocytes had infiltrated the tumor around the tuberculomas. The cancer stage of the patient was early and her prognosis is good.     

颈椎髓外硬膜下结核瘤1例

患者,男,38岁,以颈项部疼痛1个月,突发左上肢麻木无力3d入院。1个月前,无明显诱因,出现颈部疼痛,无双上肢感觉障碍,无活动受限,无头晕头痛,就诊于当地医院(具体治疗不详),症状无改善。3d前突然出现左上肢麻木无力,右上肢麻木感,排尿无力。既往:3年前无明显诱因出现颈部皮肤溃烂     

Third ventricular tuberculoma: a case report

Tuberculomas of the brain can now be diagnosed readily with computerised axial tomography. A rare, biopsy proven case of a third ventricular tuberculoma is presented. Typical CT scan findings are discussed and management with drugs and minimal surgical intervention when necessary is stressed.     

Intramedullary spinal tuberculoma: a case report

STUDY DESIGN: A case report showing an intramedullary thoracic spinal tuberculoma secondary to pulmonary tuberculosis in a 16-year-old patient with findings of subacute spinal cord compression. OBJECTIVES: The significance and the use of magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of intramedullary tuberculoma, and the treatment of the patient that involves surgically the excision of intramedullary lesion followed by appropriate antituberculous therapy. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Tuberculomas of spinal cord are rare entities. The possibility of intramedullary tuberculoma should be seriously considered when an intraspinal mass is found, provided that pulmonary tuberculosis is present in the history of the patient. METHOD: Th4-Th5 laminectomy was performed. Intramedullary tuberculoma was excised through a myelotomy. Antituberculous treatment was applied after the surgery. RESULTS: Excellent clinical outcome was obtained with a combination of both medical and surgical treatments. CONCLUSION: The intramedullary spinal tuberculoma, although a rare entity, must be considered in the differential diagnosis of the spinal cord compression in patients with a history of tuberculosis, human immunodeficiency virus, and those who have a bad socioeconomic condition and bad nutrition habit. When confronted with a progressing neurologic deficit, a combination of microsurgical resection and antituberculous chemotherapy with the avoidance of steroids should be the choice of treatment for intramedullary tuberculomas.     

Intramedullary spinal tuberculoma: report of one case

Neurological symptoms of tuberculosis are rare, even if there this pathology has been on the rise for a number of years because of HIV. Intramedullary tuberculoma is an exceptional location. We report the case of a patient with no HIV or immunodepression symptoms with intramedullary tuberculoma, revealed by a clinical presentation of insidious onset of myelopathy. We will discuss the diagnosis, treatment and clinical functional follow-up. The optimal treatment seems to be a combination of microsurgical resection and antibiotic therapy.     

Epidural tuberculoma of the spine: case report

Epidural tuberculomas of the spine have been reported only rarely during the past few decades. A case of a surgically treated epidural tuberculoma of the thoracic spine in a 76-year-old women is presented.     

Diagnostic challenges in a patient with myocardial tuberculoma: A case report

IntroductionTuberculosis can affect any organ of the body, including the heart.Presentation of caseAn 18-year old woman presented with a multifocal tuberculosis infection involving abdominal lymph nodes, a sternotomy wound, an abscess of the abdominal wall and most notably a myocardial tuberculoma. Establishing the diagnosis of the myocardial tuberculoma was challenging mainly due to the location within the heart. Initially a diagnostic percutaneous femoral vascular catheter guided biopsy of the right atrial mass was performed, but later open surgery involving median sternotomy was needed. The patient recovered fully after surgery and nine months treatment with anti-tuberculosis drugs.DiscussionThe optimal length of treatment for myocardial tuberculoma is unknown. Medical treatment for six months might be enough regardless whether surgery is performed or not.ConclusionMyocardial tuberculoma requires culture from the infected tissue for confirmed diagnosis and might be successfully treated with anti-tuberculosis drugs only. Indications for surgery include uncertain diagnosis, poor response to medical treatment or cardiac complications.     

A case of primary cerebellar glioblastoma in childhood

Primary cerebellar glioblastomas are exceedingly rare in childhood, with only 19 cases having been reported. We treated a 7-year-old girl with primary cerebellar glioblastoma, who rapidly deteriorated due to cerebrospinal fluid dissemination. The 7-year-old girl was admitted to our hospital with a history of headache for one month. On admission, increased intracranial pressure and left cerebellar signs were observed. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a ring-enhanced mass in the left cerebellar hemisphere and a low intensity lesion in the pons. The tumor had compressed the fourth ventricle and caused obstructive hydrocephalus. Gross total resection of the left cerebellar tumor was performed. Histological examination revealed nuclear atypia, mitoses, and necrosis, which satisfied the World Health Organizations histological criteria for grade IV astrocytoma. The MIB-1 labeling index was more than 60%. She was treated with adjuvant therapies consisting of 60.2 Gy local irradiation to the posterior fossa, including the brain stem lesion, and chemotherapy using 1-(4-amino-2-methyl-5-pyrimidinyl)methyl-3-(2-chloroethyl)-3-nitrosourea (ACNU). However, the patient developed of anorexia and vomiting 4 months after surgery, and MRI disclosed local recurrence at the left middle cerebellar peduncle and diffuse dissemination along the lateral ventricle wall. The patient was treated with three-drug chemotherapy using ifosfamide, cisplatin, and etoposide and 39.2 Gy of whole-brain irradiation. However, her condition deteriorated gradually and she died 10 months after admission (6 months after the onset of tumor recurrence). Primary cerebellar glioblastomas in children carry a very poor prognosis and tend to cause cerebrospinal fluid dissemination.     

Intramedullary tuberculoma of the conus: a case report

Tuberculomas of the spinal cord are rare. The objective of this study was to illustrate the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculomas of the conus medullaris. They must be suspected in patients with a clinical context and a typical spinal cord mass lesion. Treatment is primarily medical. Surgery is reserved for cases of rapid neurological deterioration or doubts concerning the diagnosis. We report a case of intramedullary tuberculoma of the conus in a 27-year-old woman with paresthesias and weakness of the lower limbs who had been treated for pulmonary tuberculosis. The spinal MR showed a characteristic intramedullary ring-enhancing lesion. She improved neurologically one month after the beginning of the antituberculous drugs and a laminectomy. Seven months later, the patient is asymptomatic and the lesion has nearly completely disappeared completely.     

脑结核球继发急性粟粒性肺结核和结核性脑膜脑炎一例

患者女,26岁,既往无肺结核病史.患者入院前3 d流产后出现反复发热,体温最高达39.7℃,伴头痛、恶心、呕吐,并感右下肢乏力、麻木,经＂头孢哌酮/舒巴坦＂抗感染治疗后症状无明显缓解,遂转入我科进一步诊治.     

A growing aneurysm of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery complicated with cerebellar infarction: A case report

Introduction and importanceHereby we describe an instructive patient with cerebellar infarction and a growing aneurysm at the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA), which was not a true cause of infarction.Case presentationA 50-year-old female presented with dizziness and posterior neck pain at our hospital (Mitaka city, Tokyo, Japan). Diffusion weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images showed cerebellar infarction in the left PICA territory and MR angiography study showed an aneurysm at the origin of the left PICA, which grew in 2 weeks. Since we considered cerebellar infarction was caused by thrombosis from the aneurysm, trapping of the PICA and occipital artery-PICA bypass was performed to prevent recurrent cerebellar infarction and rupture of the aneurysm by neurosurgeons. During the operation, dissection was observed at the distal PICA, which was diagnosed to be the true cause of cerebellar infarction. By the follow-up for 12 months at an outpatient, there was no recurrence of cerebral infarction.Clinical discussionA specimen of the artery showing the findings of dissection was not obtained, and the pathological diagnosis could not be made. It would be controversial whether a surgical procedure presented here was the most optimal.ConclusionThis is a first reported case of growing aneurysms and cerebral infarction due to arterial dissection. Even if cerebral infarction is accompanied by growing aneurysms, arterial dissection should be included in the differential diagnoses of a cause of infarction. Posterior cervical pain can be a clue for early appropriate diagnosis in such a case.