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Current Research in Medicine and Medical Sciences

Universal Research Publications. All rights reserved

Review Article
TUBERCULOMA OF BRAIN A REVIEW
Jini. K. Bose, Treesa. P. Varghese, Panayappan L, Lincy George, Kirshnakumar K
Department of Pharmacy Practice
St.James College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chalakkudy-680307, Kerala
Corresponding author: stjamesdruginfo@gmail.com
Received 22 January 2014; accepted 14 March 2014
Abstract
Tuberculoma is usually caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis that mainly affects the lungs and brain. Cerebral
tuberculoma is the formation of non neoplastic, granuloma like lesions in the central nervous system. It can occur in any
part of the brain. Various diagnostic techniques are, smear test for acid fast bacilli, presence of granuloma on
histopathology, imaging techniques such as CT and MRI. Patient with tuberculoma should receive antitubercular drug
treatment. Depending upon the clinical symptoms, conformation of diagnosis, early institution of specific antitubercular
treatment and close clinical monitoring for ADR are the key to the successful management of tuberculoma. This review
article is focused to review the pathogenesis and treatments of tuberculoma.
2014 Universal Research Publications. All rights reserved
Key words: tuberculoma, granuloma, antitubercular drugs.
INTRODUCTION tissue, but in the developmental stage capsule becomes rich
Tuberculoma is an intracranial mass occurring secondary to in collagen, and surrounding inflammatory reaction will
dissemination of tuberculosis, elsewhere in the body. disappear5. Tuberculomas may appear as small single or
Tuberculoma may be solitary or multiple1. The incidence multiple nodules or as larger irregular lesions with a central
rate of brain tuberculoma is 1.4%. It is a potentially area of caseous necrosis.
curable disorder but delay of diagnosis can lead to Rupture of tuberculomas into the subarachnoid space
increased mortality and morbidity rate. Tuberculoma results in the development of tuberculosis meningitis,
affects 12-30% of all intracranial masses. It is more which may present as acute or chronic meningitis6.
common in people with poor immune system, young RADIOLOGICAL FEATURES OF TUBERCULOMA
children, HIV infected individuals and drug resistant strains CT scan and MRI scan are the important imaging
of mycobacterium tuberculosis2. Chance of occurance of techniques for diagnosing tuberculoma. Tuberculoma
tuberculosis is 20 times more in HIV positive individuals appears as a round or lobulated mass with irregular walls
when compaired to HIV negative individuals. The main and show homogenous ring enhancement after
clinical symptoms are intracranial hypertension, papillary administration of radio contrast. In CT scan appearance of
edema, hemiplegra, hemiparesis, epilepsy, pulmonary tuberculoma round or oval mass lesion that is isointense or
tuberculosis3. Diagnosis is mainly based upon the clinical hypotense on the plain of CT scan is observed. But the MRI
features like cerebrospinal fluid changes and imaging findings of tuberculoma depend upon the stage of
characteristics. evolution. MRI has greater sensitivity and specificity than
PATHOGENESIS CT scan.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis is an aerobic, nonmotile non
spore forming acid fast bacillus4. Primary tuberculosis
infection is associated with hematological spread, organism
is found in different organs and lie dormant. Such dormant
foci get distributed in the brain when organism reaches the
brain and/or meninges from acute primary lesion via blood
stream to establish focal lesion known as tuberculomas.
Intracranial tuberculoma orginates as small tubercles and
develop to form mature tuberculoma. Mature forms are Figure 1. Axial T1
composed of fibroblast, epithelial cells and lymphocytes. In Isointense to gray matter.
early stage of tuberculoma formation, there is an May have central region of hyperintensity representing
inflammatory reaction and a capsule poor in collagenous caseation.

Current Research in Medicine and Medical Sciences 2014; 4(1): 7-8

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 associated with the condition. Mainly tuberculomas are
treated by chemotherapy with antitubercular drug, a
minimum of 10 months treatment is required. In severe
cases surgical excision of the tuberculoma can be
performed.
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CONCLUSION management, Eighth edition ,Richard A. Helms, David
Early recognition and timely treatment of tuberculoma is
J. Quan, Eric T. Herfindal, page
critical to prevent the considerable mortality and morbidity

Source of support: Nil; Conflict of interest: None declared

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