"Haematogenous spread from the lungs or gastrointestinal tract is most common, leading to small subpial or subependymal infective foci. These are termed Rich foci and form a reservoir from which intracranial manifestations may arise 5,7,8. This can occur either during the primary infection (uncommon, more frequently seen in children) or be reactivated later, causing a post-primary infection."
"Tuberculosis remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the developing world. It may account for ≈1/6th of the 3 million global deaths due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. CNS involvement is thought to occur in 2-5% of patients with tuberculosis and up to 15% of those with AIDS-related tuberculosis 6,7."
"TB leptomeningitis is common and presents with a thick tuberculous exudate within the subarachnoid space, particularly pronounced at the base of the brain (especially in the interpeduncular fossa, anterior to the pons and around the cerebellum) and may also extend into the Sylvian fissures. In contrast to bacterial meningitis, extension over the surfaces of the cerebral hemispheres is relatively uncommon 8. Eventually, mass-like regions of caseous necrosis can form within this exudate, representing extra-axial tuberculomas."
"In contrast, TB pachymeningitis is rare and is characterised by thick plaque-like regions of pachymeningeal enhancement. This term should be reserved for cases where it is an isolated abnormality, and not confused with the sometimes dramatic thickening of dura adjacent to a tuberculoma 8."
"Intracranial tuberculomas may occur either in isolation or combined with extra-axial TB infection. They typically appear as ring-enhancing lesions with surrounding vasogenic oedema. Centrally, they tend to have only intermediate or even low signal on T2-weighted images (helpful in distinguishing them from the less common tuberculous abscess) 9. They may be associated with extensive adjacent leptomeningeal and/or pachymeningeal enhancement."
"TB leptomeningitis is common and presents with a thick tuberculous exudate within the subarachnoid space, particularly pronounced at the base of the brain (especially in the interpeduncular fossa, anterior to the pons and around the cerebellum) and may also extend into the Sylvian fissures. In contrast to bacterial meningitis, extension over the surfaces of the cerebral hemispheres is relatively uncommon 8. Eventually, mass-like regions of caseous necrosis can form within this exudate, representing extra-axial tuberculomas."
Expected headings
"Tuberculous meningitis"
"Leptomeningitis"
"Pachymeningitis"
"Tuberculoma"
"Complications"
"CNS tuberculosis can result from either haematogenous spread from distant systemic infection (e.g. pulmonary tuberculosis) or direct extension from local infection (e.g. tuberculous otomastoiditis)."
"Clinical presentation depends on the particular manifestation, although in all cases, symptoms and signs are non-specific and include fever, seizures, meningism, and focal neurological deficits (e.g., altered sensorium, hemiparesis)."
"Clinical presentation depends on the particular manifestation, although in all cases, symptoms and signs are non-specific and include fever, seizures, meningism, and focal neurological deficits (e.g., altered sensorium, hemiparesis)."
"Clinical presentation depends on the particular manifestation, although in all cases, symptoms and signs are non-specific and include fever, seizures, meningism, and focal neurological deficits (e.g., altered sensorium, hemiparesis)."
"There is a wide radiological and pathological spectrum of CNS disease. Tuberculous meningitis and intracranial tuberculous granuloma (tuberculoma) are the most common manifestations, and these are discussed in detail in separate articles. Below is a brief discussion of the main imaging features of each presentation."