title: Presumed intramedullary spinal cord sarcoidosis in a healthy young adult woman.
abstract: Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease of unknown etiology associated with the development of granulomatous nodules in various organs, most commonly the lungs, eyes, and skin. It rarely affects the central nervous system, with the spinal cord being least common area of involvement. However, when sarcoidosis does affect the central nervous system, it is often the first presentation of the disease, making diagnosis more difficult. Physical examination findings are consistent with spinal cord pathology, and imaging often suggests spinal cord tumor. We present a case of an otherwise healthy young woman with a granulomatous mass in her cervico-thoracic spinal cord presumed to be sarcoid and review the clinical findings, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis associated with this rare disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908-1004, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Eby
authors.forename: Eric J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Buchner
authors.forename: Mary G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Bryant
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000628:therapy; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007796:Laminectomy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000628:therapy; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000628:therapy; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003907:Dexamethasone; D011241:Prednisone