Lumbosacral polyradiculopathy mimicking distal polyneuropathy.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the relative importance of lumbosacral polyradiculopathy (PR) as a cause of distal lower extremity sensory loss, weakness, and hyporeflexia usually attributed to polyneuropathy (PN). METHODS.: We performed a chart review of all patients referred to our electromyography (EMG) laboratory for evaluation of polyneuropathy over a 23-month period. Requisitions, clinical histories, physical examinations, electromyography results, and subsequent evaluations were reviewed for each case.


RESULTS
: Of 162 cases, 79 (49%) patients had evidence of PN, either alone or in combination with another abnormality. Twenty-two (14%) had findings consistent with PR alone, and an additional 14 patients (8.6%) were found to have simultaneous PR and PN. Of the 11 patients who underwent subsequent magnetic resonance imaging, nine (82%) had prominent lumbar stenosis. An asymmetric sensory examination was more common (p <0.002) in patients with PR than in patients with PN.


CONCLUSIONS
: Lumbosacral PR should be considered in the differential diagnosis of all patients presenting with distal sensory loss, weakness, and hyporeflexia.
Rutrove
S B
SB
Nardin
R A
RA
Raynor
E M
EM
Levy
M L
ML
Landrio
M A
MA