Velázquez GG, Lara TH, Reséndiz MM, Aguirre QD, Chávez ML, Olvera RJE

Language: Spanish
References: 11
Page: 13-19
PDF size: 340.95 Kb.

ABSTRACT

Background: There are four forms of tuberculosis in the Central Nervous System. The most frequent is basal leptomeningitis, followed by intraparenchimal tuberculomas, tuberculomas en plaque and Pott’s disease, in which damage of spinal cord follows the spinal tuberculosis. Encephalic tuberculomas are more common in immunosupressed. Cerebellar location is common in children. They can cause hydrocephalus, epilepsy, motor deficit and other manifestations of the encephalic mass. Objective: To inform 31 cases of intracraneal tuberculomas. Results: There were found 23 in males and eight in females, with an age range from 8 to 72 years. Thirteen were single and 18 multiple. Four were catalogued as giant. The cerebellum was the most common site. In decreasing order of frequency the following manifestations were observed: meningeal signs, intracranial hypertension and alterations of consciousness. The center of the lesions had the typical aspect of caseous necrosis and the amount of granulation tissue varied according to the age. Microscopically, all components of caseous granulomas were identified. The acid-fast bacilli were scarce with the ZN stain. Conclusions: Frequency of neurotuberculosis has decreased in the last two decades and tuberculomas are not any longer the neurosurgical problem that it once was.

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