Clinically isolated neurosarcoidosis: a recommended diagnostic path.
The involvement of the central nervous system in sarcoidosis can manifest with a variety of neurological symptoms, most of them nonspecific. We identified 13 patients with neurosarcoidosis diagnosed at our clinic. Six of 13 patients presented with clinically isolated neurosarcoidosis (CINS) without signs or symptoms of systemic disease. CINS patients were not different with respect to age, as well as imaging and spinal fluid findings, or disease course. However, we found spinal cord involvement in neurosarcoidosis patients much more common than previously described (in 8 out of 13 patients). Spinal cord affection was associated with older age at diagnosis and a less favorable response to therapy. Based on our findings, we propose a diagnostic path for neurosarcoidosis, including spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a mandatory and early step during diagnostic workup.
Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland.
Susanne
S
Wegener
Michael
M
Linnebank
Roland
R
Martin
Anton
A
Valavanis
Michael
M
Weller
D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology