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Reversible multifocal encephalopathy following tuberculous infection.
L Provinciali1, M Del Pesce, B Censori
1Istituto delle Malattie del Sistema Nervoso, Università di Ancona.
Italian Journal of Neurological Sciences
|April 1, 1989
Summary
Tuberculous encephalopathy, a brain infection, can occur in Western patients without lung TB or meningitis. This multifocal condition shows complete recovery with treatment, unlike tuberculomas.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
- Radiology
Background:
- Tuberculous encephalopathy is typically associated with Asian or African populations and poor hygiene.
- It often presents secondary to meningitis in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.
Observation:
- This study details three Western patients from affluent backgrounds with multifocal tuberculous encephalopathy.
- Two patients lacked preceding meningitis or pulmonary tuberculosis at the onset of central nervous system involvement.
Findings:
- Complete recovery was observed following medical therapy in all patients.
- Brain CT and MRI scans showed lesion evolution consistent with encephalitis, distinct from surgically treated tuberculomas.
Implications:
- Tuberculous encephalopathy should be considered in the differential diagnosis of multifocal brain lesions, even in Western, middle-class individuals.
- The findings suggest tuberculous encephalopathy is a treatable, localized form of encephalitis.