Biomedical Letters

Various Manifestation of Central Nervous System Tuberculosis: A Review

Kanchan Labh, Xiwen Sun*

Department of Radiology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200433, China

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) is the most common disease of the world. The incidence of tuberculosis of central nervous system is on increasing trend day by day. The most common site of tuberculosis is lung. Extrapulmonary TB can occur primarily or by hematogenous spread. Extrapulmonary TB accounts for 20% of all TB cases. Central nervous system TB is common. The diagnosis of central nervous system tuberculosis can be made by combining clinical history, laboratory findings and radiological findings which includes Computed tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Central nervous system tuberculosis may occur in different forms like tuberculous pachymeningitis/ tuberculous en plaque, tuberculous leptomeningitis, tuberculoma, tuberculous abscess, cerebritis, encephalopathy, miliary tuberculosis leading to tuberculous vasculitis and infarction, neuropathy, visual complications and hydrocephalus. The aim of writing this review is to overview all the manifestations of central nervous system tuberculosis. Different MRI modalities have been used to study the features of intracranial tuberculosis. The diagnosis and treatment of central nervous system tuberculosis on time is mandatory in order to prevent other neurological sequelae caused by the disease and thus prevent morbidity and mortality.

Keywords: Tuberculosis, central nervous system, magnetic resonance imaging.

Received October 16, 2015 Revised November 19, 2015 Accepted November 27, 2015

*Correspondence: Xiwen Sun Email 479082599@qq.com Contact: +86 13816593938 Fax: +86-021-65115006-3089