Tuberculous meningitis in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Lok Ming Tang*, Sien Tsong Chen, Hong Shiu Chang

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal Article peer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Mycobacterial infection has been recognized as a complication in patients with malignancy. Tuberculous (TB) meningitis has not been reported in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC); it may have been overlooked or confused with the underlying malignancy or meningitis caused by other microorganisms. We describe the occurrence of culture-proven TB meningitis in 2 NPC patients. The time lag between the diagnosis of NPC and the occurrence of TB meningitis was 4 years in 1 patient and 6 years in the other. In both patients, the diagnosis of TB meningitis was delayed; they were initially treated for bacterial meningitis. Subsequent antituberculous chemotherapy was successful in 1 patient but failed in the other. Recognition of the infection is important for early diagnosis and proper treatment of this potentially fatal condition in patients with NPC.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)195-196
Number of pages2
JournalScandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases
Volume28
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1996
Externally publishedYes

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