title: Tuberculous meningitis in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
abstract: Mycobacterial infection has been recognized as a complication in patients with malignancy. Tuberculous (TB) meningitis has not been reported in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC); it may have been overlooked or confused with the underlying malignancy or meningitis caused by other microorganisms. We describe the occurrence of culture-proven TB meningitis in 2 NPC patients. The time lag between the diagnosis of NPC and the occurrence of TB meningitis was 4 years in 1 patient and 6 years in the other. In both patients, the diagnosis of TB meningitis was delayed; they were initially treated for bacterial meningitis. Subsequent antituberculous chemotherapy was successful in 1 patient but failed in the other. Recognition of the infection is important for early diagnosis and proper treatment of this potentially fatal condition in patients with NPC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Medical College, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: S T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D014390:Tuberculosis, Meningeal / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology