title: Bell-shaped sensory impairments of all modalities in a neurosarcoidosis patient.
abstract: We describe a 45-year-old man with neurosarcoidosis complaining of bell-shaped tightening and pain with sensory disturbance of superficial and deep sensations. The patient showed subacute progressive sensory impairment in bilateral C7-Th12 dermatomes. Triceps and patellar tendon reflexes were decreased. Chest X-ray revealed bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy without pleural effusion. There was abnormal accumulation of gallium in the bilateral hilar lymph nodes, parotid glands, and lacrimal glands on scintigraphy. Examination of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid showed an elevated CD4/CD8 ratio. Transbronchial lung biopsy showed non-caseating granulomas with many epitheloid cells and occasional Langhans giant cells without any necrotic lesion. The tuberculin reaction was negative, and elevation of serum lysozyme and IgG level were seen. These findings fulfilled the clinical criteria for sarcoidosis. Spine MRI demonstrated no abnormality. Studies of short-latency somatosensory evoked potentials showed delayed N13 latency and absent N19 and N28 potentials bilaterally. A nerve conduction study revealed no abnormality. The patient's muscle strength was normal through the entire clinical course. Therefore, we consider that his sensory impairment was caused by peripheral neuropathy, especially in the dorsal root region. Neurosarcoidosis is important for differentiating bell-shaped sensory impairments of all modalities.
authors.affiliation: Division of Respirology, Neurology and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, 67 Asahimachi, Kurume City, Fukuoka 830-0011, Japan. shiroh46@med.kurume-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Shiroh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miura
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kusumoto
authors.forename: Kazuhito
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Noda
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Azuma
authors.forename: Reiko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Toda
authors.forename: Seiyo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Honda
authors.forename: Mitsuyoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ayabe
authors.forename: Hisamichi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aizawa
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Taniwaki
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D020886:Somatosensory Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots