Incidental Follow-up Imaging of Previous Ventricular Tuberculosis and Pneumoencephalography in a 57-year-old man

Cureus. 2019 Dec 10;11(12):e6340. doi: 10.7759/cureus.6340.

Abstract

We present a rare case of follow-up by neuroimaging in a 57-year-old man with a previous pneumoencephalography to evaluate ventricular tuberculosis (TB). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the whole head was performed at 3T using T1-weighted magnetization-prepared rapid gradient echo (T1-MPRAGE). A full quantitative sensory testing battery on the forearm was also performed, alongside a brief clinical examination. All test results were normal with the exception of the T1-MPRAGE which showed enlarged ventricles and a cyst-like focal changes, mistaken for a sign of old ischaemic infarct. The change, however, is consistent with the insertion of a cannula for the pneumoencephalogram. This is the first follow-up report with neuroimaging presented nearly 40 years after the diagnosis of ventricular TB.

Keywords: central tuberculosis; magnetic resonance imaging; mri; pneumoencephalography; tuberculosis; ventricular tuberculosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

Grants and funding

Funding for the PhD studentship for Dr Neumann was funded by the Wellcome Trust