[Proliferative granulomatous arachnoiditis: an infrequent form of tuberculous myeloradioculopathy]

Proliferative granulomatous arachnoiditis is an infrequent manifestation of central nervous system tuberculosis. The mortality rate is 30%, and there are functional sequels in almost all patients. We present the case of a 22-year-old woman, immunocompetent that suffered form tuberculous radiculo-myelopathy with fatal evolution, which allowed us to confront neuroimaging and neuropathological findings. Although serial MR imaging illustrated evolution of lesions, autopsy revealed more extensive lesions that those observed in neuroimaging studies. The characteristic pathological lesion was an intradural inflammatory exudate with a global medullar necrosis. Even through duration of medical treatment is still discussed, early diagnosis, complete antituberculous drug regimen and prolonged corticosteroid therapy are essential to avoid fatal evolution as occurred in this case.