title: Brachioradial pruritus: cervical spine disease and neurogenic/neuropathic [corrected] pruritus.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Division of Dermatology, University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center and Medical School, USA.
authors.forename: Rashel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Goodkin
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wingard
authors.forename: Jeffrey D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Bernhard
mesh_terms: 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