Tuberculoma

A tuberculoma, also called a tuberculous ball, is not a tumor but a special form of pulmonary tuberculosis. It generally does not undergo malignant transformation. Most arise from secondary pulmonary tuberculous foci; when bacillary load is low, virulence is weak, and host allergy is weak with strong immunity, tuberculous inflammation is quickly encapsulated by fibrous tissue. A tuberculous ball is pulmonary TB encapsulated by fibrosis; it is generally non-infectious, but recurrence or reinfection can make it infectious.

Common Symptoms

Moist rales; cachectic facies; dyspnea; hemoptysis with paroxysmal cough; cough; fatigue; low fever

Causes and Pathogenesis

Tubercle bacilli belong to the order Actinomycetales, family Mycobacteriaceae, genus Mycobacterium, and are pathogenic acid-fast bacilli. They are mainly classified into human, bovine, avian, and murine types; the human type is mainly pathogenic to humans, with rare bovine infection. Drug resistance can develop from naturally resistant strains or from rapid emergence of resistance when a single anti-TB drug is used alone. Resistant strains complicate treatment and affect efficacy.

Treatment

Anti-tuberculous drug therapy, supportive therapy, surgical treatment

Preventive Measures

1. BCG vaccination for uninfected individuals. 2. Chemoprophylaxis for selected infected individuals: (1) Close contacts of sputum-positive patients. (2) Children under 14 with strongly positive Mantoux. (3) Non-active pulmonary TB with long-term corticosteroids/immunosuppressants, radiotherapy, peri-gastrectomy, strongly positive Mantoux in recruits, dual TB-HIV infection, renal transplant recipients with prior TB, diabetes with non-active TB, or Mantoux-positive silicosis. Rifampin plus isoniazid chemoprophylaxis: adults 0.3 g/day, children 6-8 mg/(kg·day), single dose, for 3 months. 3. Eliminate the source of infection: Smear-positive pulmonary TB is the main source; new and retreatment smear-positive cases are the main chemotherapy targets.

Department to Visit

It is recommended to visit the Infectious Diseases department; an appointment can be booked on this platform before the visit.

Warm reminder: The above information is for health science reference only and cannot replace professional medical diagnosis. If you have related symptoms, please seek medical attention at a regular hospital promptly.