Exp Neurobiol.  2015 Jun;24(2):169-172. 10.5607/en.2015.24.2.169.

Balo's Concentric Sclerosis Mimicking Cerebral Tuberculoma

• Son YR
• Yang H
• Lee S
• Kim JY
• Han SG
• Park KS

• KMID: 2165551
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5607/en.2015.24.2.169

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.

Keyword

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

MeSH Terms

Abscess
Adrenal Cortex Hormones
Biopsy
Brain
Brain Neoplasms
Developing Countries
Diagnosis
Diagnosis, Differential
Diffuse Cerebral Sclerosis of Schilder*
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Multiple Sclerosis
Neoplasm Metastasis
Prevalence
Sclerosis
Tuberculoma*
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, Pulmonary
Young Adult
Adrenal Cortex Hormones