Spinal intramedullary tuberculoma in a 3-year-old girl

Abstract

Background: Spinal intramedullary tuberculoma (IMT) is a rare manifestation of extrapulmonary tuberculosis (TB). Presentation of TB in the pediatric age group is a significant contributor to mortality. Case Description: A young vaccinated girl presented to the neurosurgery department with difficulty walking and urinary incontinence. A magnetic resonance imaging performed outside the hospital showed a hyperintense intramedullary lesion extending from T6 to T9. The patient underwent T6–T9 laminoplasty with intramedullary lesion decompression under neuromonitoring. The dense adherence of the lesion to the cord and nerve roots permitted only debulking. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of tuberculoma. The patient was started on antitubercular treatment and was then subsequently discharged. After 8 months, the patient was reviewed and showed improvement in her symptoms and complete resolution of the lesion on imaging. The patient has now developed hydrocephalus on the latest computed tomography imaging, which may be due to tubercular meningitis or arachnoiditis. Conclusion: Complete resolution of spinal IMT is possible with a combined treatment approach.