Neurosarcoidosis – the necessity of definite vs possible diagnosis

A 39-year-old Caucasian female presented with two months of numbness/tingling and change in temperature sensation of extremities. Examination revealed decreased strength of bilateral hip flexion/extension (4+/5), and left plantar flexion (4/5); extended reflex area of C6-C8, absent lower extremitie...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Juliana Chen-Xu, Pedro Bem, Paulo Venâncio Fereira, Carolina Lopes
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Sociedade Galega de Medicina Interna 2025-06-01
Series:Galicia Clínica
Subjects:
Online Access:https://galiciaclinica.info/gc/article/view/1268
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:A 39-year-old Caucasian female presented with two months of numbness/tingling and change in temperature sensation of extremities. Examination revealed decreased strength of bilateral hip flexion/extension (4+/5), and left plantar flexion (4/5); extended reflex area of C6-C8, absent lower extremities deep tendon reflexes and slight extension of right plantar reflex; impaired pinprick and temperature sensations from D7 downwards; vibratory anesthesia from left tibiotarsal joint and reduced on the right hallux; proprioceptive defects in ≧25% of lower extremities examination. Neuroaxis MRI showed intramedullary hyperintense lesions on C2, D6 and a longitudinal extensive lesion on C7-D3. On CSF analysis: protein (100.8mg/dL), ACE (12U/L) and CD4+/CD8+ ratio (6.3). Although spinal biopsy was not performed, imaging was suggestive of neurosarcoidosis and corticosteroids improved the symptoms. Our case questions the need for definite diagnosis taking into account the risk/benefit of the spinal biopsy, and displays the difficulty of distinguishing isolated vs initial picture of sarcoidosis.
ISSN:0304-4866
1989-3922