2007 Volume 46 Issue 24 Pages 2001-2006
We report a 31-year-old man with tuberculous meningitis (TM) mimicking CNS sarcoidosis. Although Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) was not detected in CSF, the level of adenosine deaminase (ADA) in CSF was significantly raised. Brain biopsy showed caseous granuloma and a diagnosis of TM was made. The diagnosis of TM is often difficult and brain biopsy should be considered if MTB is not detected in the CSF. Evaluation of CSF ADA level could also strongly contribute to distinguishing TM from other meningitis. In addition to antituberculosis drugs, corticosteroid therapy was effective in our patient but careful reduction of its dosage was required.
