Experimental Neurobiology  2015;24(2):169-172

doi:10.5607/en.2015.24.2.169

Balo's Concentric Sclerosis Mimicking Cerebral Tuberculoma.

Yoo Ri SON 1 ; Hyeran YANG ; Sehoon LEE ; Jee Young KIM ; Suk Geun HAN ; Kyung Seok PARK

Affiliations

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Keywords

Balo's concentric sclerosis; multiple sclerosis; corticosteroids; cerebral tuberculoma

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

English

MeSH

Abstract

Balo's concentric sclerosis (BCS) is considered a rare variant of multiple sclerosis, which often mimics an intracranial neoplasm or abscess. We report the case of a 21-year-old woman presenting with BCS while undergoing treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis. Initial brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings were similar to those for cerebral tuberculoma, multiple metastases, or abscesses. However, the pathognomonic concentric sclerosis characteristic of BCS was seen on MRI. The antemortem confirmatory diagnosis of BCS was made by follow-up MRI and a brain biopsy. It is suggested that BCS should be included in the differential diagnosis of cerebral tuberculoma, especially in developing countries with a high prevalence of tuberculosis.