Clinical and radiological features of symptomatic central nervous system tuberculomas

Tuberculomas may present with meningitis, may lead to meningitis, or may develop during the treatment of TBM. In this study, we report a series of 22 adult cases of symptomatic central nervous system tuberculomas, in eight of them tuberculomas were coexisting with TBM on admission and in 14 of them symptomatic tuberculomas developed during anti-tuberculosis therapy. We also aimed to compare the clinical, laboratory and outcome data of the 14 TBM patients that developed symptomatic tuberculomas, with the data of 41 TBM that did not, under the same treatment regimen. Most of the patients developed symptomatic tuberculomas in the first 6 weeks of treatment. Five patients developed late tuberculomas. The characteristics of tuberculomas and the role of corticosteroids in TBM patients are discussed. In conclusion, although steroids may diminish neurologic symptoms and improve outcome, tuberculomas may appear during the course of anti-tuberculosis and steroid treatment. Because of the possibility of late development of tuberculomas after initial successful treatment, all TBM patients need to be followed-up carefully for a long period.