Brachioradial pruritus: cervical spine disease and neurogenic/neuropathic [corrected] pruritus.
BACKGROUND
The main cause of brachioradial pruritus (BRP) is not known but there is evidence to suggest that BRP may arise in the nervous system. Cervical spine disease may be an important contributing factor.


OBJECTIVE
Our aim was to determine whether spine pathology is associated with BRP.


METHODS
Medical charts of patients with BRP seen in the Division of Dermatology of the University of Massachusetts Medical Center between the years of 1993 and 2000 were retrospectively analyzed. On the basis of clinical index of suspicion, some patients had undergone radiography of the spine.


RESULTS
Of 22 patients with BRP, 11 had cervical spine radiographs. The radiographs showed cervical nnspine disease that could be correlated with the location of pruritus in each of these 11 patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with BRP may have underlying cervical spine pathology. Whether this association is causal or coincidental remains to be determined.
Goodkin
Rashel
R
Division of Dermatology, University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center and Medical School, USA.
Wingard
Ellen
E
Bernhard
Jeffrey D
JD
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011537:Pruritus / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging