Miliary Tuberculosis Mimicking Brain Metastasis from Renal Cell Carcinoma

Author: Yousang KO ¹ ; Eun Kyung MO ; Yong Bum PARK ; Mi Ri KANG ; Jong Seok BAE ; Yerim KIM
Author Information

1. Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Publication Type:Case Report
Keywords: Tuberculosis, Miliary; Tuberculoma, Intracranial; Brain neoplasms; Neoplasm metastasis
MeSH: Brain Neoplasms; Brain; Carcinoma, Renal Cell; Dysarthria; Female; Humans; Neoplasm Metastasis; Tuberculoma, Intracranial; Tuberculosis, Miliary
From: Journal of Neurocritical Care 2018;11(1):47-53
CountryRepublic of Korea
Language:English
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Miliary tuberculosis (TB) can cause diagnostic confusion for clinicians because its radiological appearance can resemble that of metastatic cancer. CASE REPORT: Here, we describe the case of a 72-yearold woman with miliary TB mimicking brain metastasis from renal cell carcinoma. The patient visited our clinic because of dysarthria and sluggish speech. A metastatic cancer such as renal cell carcinoma or brain tumor was suspected. However, the patient was diagnosed with miliary TB associated with multiple intracranial tuberculomas and a subsequent paradoxical response to anti-TB therapy. CONCLUSION: Clinicians should be aware that miliary TB can mimic metastatic cancer even in older people, especially in TB-endemic regions.