[Miliary tuberculosis and silicosis with predominantly cerebral symptoms]

About 10 weeks before admission to hospital a 73-year-old woman developed a fever of up to 40 degrees C for three days. She then had subfebrile temperature for several weeks with some rises to 39 degrees C. She was known to have type II a diabetes mellitus and pulmonary silicosis, having worked in a porcelain and ceramic factory for many years. Before admission her cerebral functions were rapidly deteriorating, especially short-term memory. This was followed by increasing paraplegia of the legs with inability to walk. She finally had urinary and faecal incontinence and swallowing difficulties with tendency to aspiration, which necessitated hospitalisation.

Both lactate dehydrogenase (339 U/l) and C-reactive protein (112 mg/l) were elevated; the platelet count was low (73000/microliters). Cerebrospinal fluid was unremarkable, as was computed tomography of the skull. But magnetic resonance imaging revealed multiple spotty lesions with low contrast-medium uptake throughout the brain, pointing to a disseminated bacterial or mycotic infection. 3 days later the chest-ray showed small nodular soft shadows in the lungs, and lung functions had decreased. Mycobacteria were found in the urine and liver biopsy showed granulomatous hepatitis, establishing the diagnosis of miliary tuberculosis in the presence of silicosis.

Tuberculostatic treatment was instituted with four drugs (pyrazinamide, ethambutol, isoniazid and streptomycin. After 6 weeks the patient was again able to walk and continent of urine during the day. All cerebral functions gradually improved.

Miliary tuberculosis should be included in the differential diagnosis of ill-defined feverish disease, especially in the elderly.