title: Tuberculoma of the cervical spinal canal mimicking en plaque meningioma.
abstract: A previously healthy, HIV-negative, 40-year-old man presented with a 2-month history of progressive weakness of his left arm. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an intradural, extramedullary plaque-shaped lesion at C6-T1 levels with high contrast enhancement. Based on the patient's clinical and radiologic findings, it was believed that the patient had an en plaque meningioma, and he was operated on. Histologic examination of the mass revealed granulomas with multinucleated and Langhans-type giant cells, typical of a tuberculoma. Intradural extramedullary tuberculomas should be considered in the differential diagnosis of en plaque meningioma as a rare entity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Celal Bayar University School of Medicine, Manisa, Turkey. hmirzai@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mirzai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003951:Diagnostic Errors / Q000517:prevention & control; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007796:Laminectomy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D008579:Meningioma / Q000175:diagnosis; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013115:Spinal Canal / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013355:Subdural Space / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014375:Tuberculoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D014399:Tuberculosis, Spinal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery