Transverse myelitis in a 26-year-old male with tuberculosis

Acute transverse myelitis is an inflammatory condition covering the entire cross section of the spinal cord, spreading on two or more vertebral segments, without evidence of a compressive lesion. This shows clinically as an acute or subacute onset of paraparesis, lower limb paresthesia, sensory defi...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Radiology case reports 2022-10, Vol.17 (10), p.3669-3673
Main Authors: Harizi, Edlira, Shemsi, Kledisa, Kola, Erisa, Hyseni, Fjolla, Kola, Ina, Siddique, Mohammad Abubaker, Sadeque, Jafor, Decka, Arlind, Dervishi, Migena, Nasir, Fareeha, Capi, Livia, Ayala, Ivan, Ghosh, Ammy Shankar, Swarna, Sanzida Sharmin, Musa, Juna, Ahmetgjekaj, Ilir
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acute transverse myelitis
Case Report
Impaired sphincter function
Magnetic resonance
Miliary tuberculosis
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Paraesthesia
Paraparesis
Citations: Items that this one cites
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Acute transverse myelitis is an inflammatory condition covering the entire cross section of the spinal cord, spreading on two or more vertebral segments, without evidence of a compressive lesion. This shows clinically as an acute or subacute onset of paraparesis, lower limb paresthesia, sensory deficits, and impaired sphincter function. Mycobacterium tuberculosis is exceedingly rare cause of this inflammation, with a mechanism still not fully understood. The main etiologies are thought to be an abnormal activation of the immune system against the neuronal cells of the medulla, direct inoculation of the bacillus, and the toxic effect of the antitubercular medications on the spinal cord. We present the case of a 26-year-old male patient with acute symptoms of transverse myelitis and presence of miliary tuberculosis of the lungs. The purpose of this case report is to put the emphasis on the importance of distinguishing the characteristics of tubercular lesions on imaging modalities, especially on magnetic resonance imaging, in the differential diagnosis of tuberculosis as a rare but profoundly serious cause of acute transverse myelitis.
ISSN:1930-0433
1930-0433
DOI:10.1016/j.radcr.2022.06.091