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...

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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
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author Juliana Chen-Xu
Pedro Bem
Paulo Venâncio Fereira
Carolina Lopes
author_facet Juliana Chen-Xu
Pedro Bem
Paulo Venâncio Fereira
Carolina Lopes
author_sort Juliana Chen-Xu
collection DOAJ
description 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.
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institution Kabale University
issn 0304-4866
1989-3922
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Sociedade Galega de Medicina Interna
record_format Article
series Galicia Clínica
spelling doaj-art-47e934fe157549a081ca7cb1dc3c285a2025-08-20T03:28:05ZengSociedade Galega de Medicina InternaGalicia Clínica0304-48661989-39222025-06-0186110.22546/86/1/1268Neurosarcoidosis – the necessity of definite vs possible diagnosisJuliana Chen-Xu0Pedro Bem1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0405-5116Paulo Venâncio Fereira2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4418-2873Carolina Lopes3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0706-4176ULSPVVCULSMULSMULSM 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. https://galiciaclinica.info/gc/article/view/1268Neurosarcoidosissarcoidosistransverse longitudinal myelitisspinal cord
spellingShingle Juliana Chen-Xu
Pedro Bem
Paulo Venâncio Fereira
Carolina Lopes
Neurosarcoidosis – the necessity of definite vs possible diagnosis
Galicia Clínica
Neurosarcoidosis
sarcoidosis
transverse longitudinal myelitis
spinal cord
title Neurosarcoidosis – the necessity of definite vs possible diagnosis
title_full Neurosarcoidosis – the necessity of definite vs possible diagnosis
title_fullStr Neurosarcoidosis – the necessity of definite vs possible diagnosis
title_full_unstemmed Neurosarcoidosis – the necessity of definite vs possible diagnosis
title_short Neurosarcoidosis – the necessity of definite vs possible diagnosis
title_sort neurosarcoidosis the necessity of definite vs possible diagnosis
topic Neurosarcoidosis
sarcoidosis
transverse longitudinal myelitis
spinal cord
url https://galiciaclinica.info/gc/article/view/1268
work_keys_str_mv AT julianachenxu neurosarcoidosisthenecessityofdefinitevspossiblediagnosis
AT pedrobem neurosarcoidosisthenecessityofdefinitevspossiblediagnosis
AT paulovenanciofereira neurosarcoidosisthenecessityofdefinitevspossiblediagnosis
AT carolinalopes neurosarcoidosisthenecessityofdefinitevspossiblediagnosis