Related Experiment Videos
Selective hypertrophy of the cauda equina nerve roots
Matthew Burton1, Philip Anslow, Winifred Gray
1University Department of Clinical Neurology, Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford, UK.
Journal of Neurology
|May 8, 2002
Summary
This study describes a rare hypertrophic radiculopathy affecting the cauda equina. One patient improved after bronchial carcinoid tumor removal, suggesting a paraneoplastic syndrome.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Oncology
Background:
- Hypertrophic pachymeningitis is a rare condition characterized by thickening of the dura mater.
- Radiculopathy involves dysfunction of the nerve roots.
Observation:
- Two patients presented with a previously unreported form of hypertrophic radiculopathy affecting the cauda equina.
- Peripheral nerve function was preserved in both cases.
Findings:
- One patient with a bronchial carcinoid tumor experienced significant neurological improvement following tumor resection.
- This suggests a potential paraneoplastic etiology for the radiculopathy in this case.
Implications:
- This case highlights a potential link between bronchial carcinoid tumors and hypertrophic radiculopathy.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and identify the cause in the second patient with obscure etiology.