RESUMO
The uncommon presentation of simultaneous brain and lung lesions in an immunocompetent adult patient with frequent travel to a mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) endemic area requires high clinical suspicion for central nervous system (CNS) MTB, as this disease often results in severe neurologic morbidity and mortality. Non-specific and subacute symptoms make the diagnosis of CNS MTB clinically challenging, and a workup with imaging and microbiological studies such as acid-fast bacilli staining, nucleic acid amplification testing, and tissue culture must not delay prompt treatment with anti-tuberculosis therapy. This case illustrates the complex challenges of medical diagnosis and multi-disciplinary decision-making involved in the workup of CNS MTB.
