title: Tuberculosis infection presenting as brain abscess in an immunocompromised host.
abstract: Despite advances in modern treatment, tuberculosis remains an ever-present problem. With the HIV epidemic, the prevalence of tuberculosis has risen. Contributing to this trend has been the development of multi-resistant tuberculosis strains, as well as rising immigration from nations where tuberculosis is endemic. Although tuberculosis most commonly manifests as a pulmonary process, milary tuberculosis is also on the rise. Neurotuberculosis, a rare but dangerous progression of pulmonary tuberculosis, remains a difficult diagnostic and treatment dilemma to practitioners both in the United States and abroad. We describe an unusual presentation of neurotuberculosis infection in a previously asymptomatic patient. Early recognition and treatment of intracranial tuberculosis is important if mortality is to be prevented.
authors.affiliation: Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: William C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Gump
authors.forename: Lori E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Summers
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Walsh
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections; D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D001922:Brain Abscess / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D003399:Craniotomy; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D020306:Tuberculosis, Central Nervous System / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy