Cerebral tuberculoma: a role for polymerase chain reaction [PCR] in early diagnosis

Diagnosis of intracranial tuberculomata [ICT] is limited due to the inherent difficulties in isolation of the mycobacterium tuberculosis [MBTb] and the lack of specificity of radiological scans. In this case report, polymerase chain technique [PCR] was used to detect MBTb targeted DNA in the cerebrospinal fluid [CSF] of a patient with intracranial space occupying lesion. The test provided a rapid diagnostic tool confirming MBTb infection and was useful in the management of that patient