MRI Diagnosis of Intracranial Tuberculous Meningitis

Objective To evaluate MRI for the diagnosis of intracranial tuberculous meningitis.Materials and Methods The non enhanced and Gd DTPA enhanced MRI features in 18 patients with intracranial tuberculous meningitis were analyzed.Results Meningitis was found by MRI in 13 cases, presenting on non enhanced MRI as obliteration of subarachnoid space and loculation of cerebrospinal fluid. On Gd DTPA enhanced MRI, linear, diffuse plaque like and nodular enhancement on the surface of the involved meninges was seen. Tuberculous meningitis combined with tuberculoma was seen in 2 cases, with tuberculous abscesses in 2 and with cerebral infarction in one.Conclusion Tuberculous meningitis carries some certain characteristics on MRI. Gd DTPA enhanced MRI can well demonstrate the morphological and pathological evidence of involved meninges. Therefore, MR is superior to CT in diagnosing tuberculous meningitis in both acute stage and chronic stage of the disease.