1.Tuberculous optochiasmatic arachnoiditis and optochiasmatic tuberculoma in Malaysia
Mei-Ling Sharon TAI ; Shanthi VISWANATHAN ; Kartini RAHMAT ; Heng Thay CHONG ; Wan Zhen GOH ; Esther Kar Mun YEOW ; Tsun Haw TOH ; Chong Tin TAN
Neurology Asia 2018;23(4):319-326
Background & Objectives: Arachnoiditis which involves the optic chiasm and optic nervecan rarely
occurs in the patients with tuberculous meningitis (TBM). The primary objective of this study was to
determine the incidence, assess the clinical and neuroimaging findings, and associations, understand
its pathogenesis of these patients, and determine its prognosis. Methods: The patients admitted with
TBM in the neurology wards of two tertiary care hospitals from 2009 to 2017 in Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia were screened. The patients with OCA and optochiasmatic tuberculoma were included in
this study. We assessed the clinical, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), imaging findings of the study subjects
and compared with other patients without OCA or optochiasmatic tuberculoma. Results: Eighty-eight
patients with TBM were seen during the study period. Seven (8.0%) had OCA and one (1.1%) had
optochiasmatic tuberculoma. Five out of seven (71.4%) patients with OCA were newly diagnosed cases
of TBM. The other two (28.6%) had involvement while on treatment with antituberculous treatment
(paradoxical manifestation). The mean age of the patients with OCA was 27.3 ± 11.7. All the OCA
patients had leptomeningeal enhancement at other sites. All had hydrocephalus and cerebral infarcts
on brain neuroimaging. Three (42.9%) patients had cerebral tuberculoma at sites other than suprasellar
and optic chiasm areas. On univariate analysis, the presence of OCA and optochiasmatic tuberculoma
was associated with raised CSF opening pressure (p=0.014), younger age (p=0.024), cerebral infarcts
(p=0.018) and hydrocephalus (p= 0.046). There was no statistically significant association on logistic
regression. Only one (14.3%) patient had visual impairment.
Conclusion: OCA and optochiasmatic tuberculoma were seen in 9% of a cohort of Malaysian TBM
patients. They were more likely to be younger, have raised CSF opening pressure, cerebral infarcts
and hydrocephalus, suggesting the association with a more severe exudative disease.