Giant intracranial tuberculomas in children: An unexpected diagnosis and difficult management – About two cases and review of the literature

Abstract

Background: Giant intracranial tuberculomas are rare space-occupying lesions in the brain parenchyma, with a diameter >2.5 cm. They can mimic gliomas, meningiomas, and metastases. Diagnosis of this disease can be difficult without histological evidence. Tuberculosis (TB) affects people of all ages but is a major health problem among children. Misdiagnosis is common, as many clinical and radiological features are non-specific. Case Description: Case 1: A 4-year-old child presented with intracranial hypertensive syndrome and Brave– Jackson seizures. Imaging showed a left temporoparietal lesion with intense peripheral ring enhancement after gadolinium injection, and attaching to the dura mater. Total surgical excision was performed, and histological analysis confirmed granulomatous TB. A month later, he presented to the emergency department with neurological deterioration. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed disseminated TB of the central nervous system, with tuberculomas in the brain stem. The child died after a month in intensive care. Case 2: An 11-year-old boy presented with a headache that had been progressively worsening for 7 months. Imaging revealed a right frontal process mimicking a high-grade glial tumor. The child underwent surgery with total excision of the tumor. After a few days, he developed tubercular miliaria and was put on anti-bacillary treatment. Conclusion: Treatment includes antituberculosis therapy combined with surgery. This article describes the value of surgery for giant intracranial tuberculomas in two children under our care, with a review of the literature. We believe that the results of surgery for giant intracranial tuberculomas in children are favorable.