title: Cranial-epidural tuberculosis presenting as a scalp swelling.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Unlike the brain tuberculoma, tubercular osteomyelitis of the skull is very rare and not sufficiently described in the literature. Awareness of this entity makes diagnosis possible.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two unique cases of cranial and epidural tuberculosis (TB) with absence of intradural and brain involvement are presented. Both patients presented with scalp swellings but extending through the calvarium into the epidural space. Histologic/bacteriologic confirmation of tuberculosis was obtained from biopsy specimens. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of this rare lesion are described for the first time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Inflammatory scalp lesions with skull involvement and epidural extension should be investigated for tuberculous etiology. With early diagnosis and a combination of surgical and medical management, all cases of skull tuberculosis are potentially curable.
authors.affiliation: North West Armed Forces Hospital, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Abdul Hameed
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Shahat
authors.forename: Naim-Ur
authors.initials: NU
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Obaideen
authors.forename: Inam
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Akhtar uz
authors.initials: Au
authors.lastname: Zahman Au
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001706:Biopsy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004487:Edema / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004824:Epidural Space / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D004977:Ethambutol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005624:Frontal Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007538:Isoniazid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010294:Parietal Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D011718:Pyrazinamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012293:Rifampin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012535:Scalp; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014394:Tuberculosis, Osteoarticular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D011718:Pyrazinamide; D004977:Ethambutol; D007538:Isoniazid; D012293:Rifampin