Magnetic resonance imaging of the cauda equina in Guillain-Barré syndrome.
We report three patients (two children and one adult) with Guillain-Barré syndrome and magnetic resonance imaging evidence of gadolinium enhancement of the cauda equina and lumbar nerve roots. All three patients exhibited symmetric ascending paralysis and areflexia, and two (one child, one adult) suffered urinary incontinence and retention. Similar enhancement has been observed in patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy and suggests proximal nerve inflammation. Magnetic resonance imaging in Guillain-Barré syndrome and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy may have diagnostic utility.
Department of Neurology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104.
P B
PB
Crino
R
R
Zimmerman
D
D
Laskowitz
E C
EC
Raps
A M
AM
Rostami
D002420:Cauda Equina / Q000473:pathology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D004369:Pentetic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D011129:Polyradiculoneuropathy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology
D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA