Solitary pontine tuberculoma

Intern Med. 2002 Sep;41(9):738-42. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.41.738.

Abstract

A 66-year-old man, with a history of pulmonary tuberculosis 40 years before admission, complained of headache and dysarthria that lasted for 2 weeks and was followed by diplopia. MRI revealed an isolated nodular lesion in the pons with a marked enhancement mimicking brain tumor and other diseases. Antituberculous drugs were started under the presumptive diagnosis of tuberculoma. The lesion was completely resolved after 9 months of treatment and thus, the final diagnosis was confirmed. An empiric administration of antituberculous drug may be an important and non-invasive diagnostic tool as well as a treatment in such cases.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antitubercular Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Ethambutol / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Isoniazid / therapeutic use
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Pons / diagnostic imaging*
  • Pons / pathology
  • Radiography
  • Rifampin / therapeutic use
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Tuberculoma, Intracranial / diagnosis
  • Tuberculoma, Intracranial / diagnostic imaging*
  • Tuberculoma, Intracranial / drug therapy
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / complications

Substances

  • Antitubercular Agents
  • Ethambutol
  • Isoniazid
  • Rifampin