With the tuberculomas visualized, the doctors worked to diagnose the man's condition. Generally, the CNS tuberculosis can be notoriously difficult to diagnose, given that M. tuberculosis are slow-growing and stealthy and can produce generic symptoms. The man's cerebrospinal fluid, for instance, was negative for the bacteria. But a sputum sample was positive.

Tuberculomas are often seen amid tuberculosis infections that have not been adequately treated. That seems to be the case for the patient here, who had been previously treated for tuberculosis. Sometimes patients with tuberculomas also have tubercular meningitis, brain inflammation from the infection. Fortunately, the man did not develop this even more serious manifestation of the disease. With an intensive course of anti-tuberculosis antibiotics and an anti-inflammatory drug, the man's symptoms gradually began to ease. After a month, he was feeling better. After 18 months, his symptoms had completely resolved, and a repeat MRI of his head was normal.

Tuberculosis is the leading infectious disease killer globally. In 2023, the bacteria infected 10.8 million people and killed 1.25 million. The World Health Organization estimates that about a quarter of the world's population has been infected with M. tuberculosis, which spreads through the air.