CT features of tuberculous intracranial abscesses in children
Date
2007
Authors
du Plessis J.
Andronikou S.
Wieselthaler N.
Theron S.
George R.
Mapukata A.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Background: Intracranial tuberculous (TB) abscesses still cause a diagnostic dilemma on both CT and MRI as they may mimic neoplasms. Recognition of TB abscesses may prompt further imaging and appropriate trial of therapy, and may reduce the need for biopsy. Objective: To report the CT features of eight intracranial TB lesions in children initially diagnosed as neoplasms and eventually treated as TB abscesses. Materials and methods: We undertook a 3-year retrospective review of children with an initial CT diagnosis of intracranial neoplasm who were subsequently diagnosed as having TB abscesses. Results: Eight patients out of 60 with an initial diagnosis of a neoplasm on CT were misdiagnosed and were ultimately determined to have TB abscesses after biopsy or a trial of anti-TB therapy. The most consistent constellation of findings for the lesions were low density (n=5), ring enhancement (n=8), cerebral hemisphere location (n=7), mass effect (n=6), surrounding oedema (n=5) and absence of a soft-tissue-density mass (n=8). Conclusion: In endemic regions, intracranial lesions with these appearances on CT should undergo further imaging and possibly a trial of anti-TB therapy before considering biopsy. © Springer-Verlag 2006.
Description
Keywords
tuberculostatic agent, adolescent, article, brain abscess, brain biopsy, brain scintiscanning, brain tumor, cerebrospinal fluid analysis, child, clinical article, computer assisted tomography, contrast enhancement, diagnostic accuracy, diagnostic error, diagnostic value, differential diagnosis, female, hemisphere, human, human tissue, image analysis, image quality, infant, intermethod comparison, male, nuclear magnetic resonance imaging, pathological anatomy, priority journal, retrospective study, soft tissue, tuberculoma, tuberculosis, Brain Abscess, Brain Neoplasms, Child, Child, Preschool, Diagnosis, Differential, Female, Humans, Infant, Male, Reproducibility of Results, Sensitivity and Specificity, Tuberculoma, Intracranial
Citation
Pediatric Radiology
37
2
37
2