[A case of sarcoid polyradiculopathy with nerve roots swelling demonstrated by myelography]

A 62-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of tingling numbness in the trunk and upper extremities. She was well until 18 days earlier, when she began to feel tingling numbness on the ulnar side of the left arm. During the next two weeks it spread gradually over the trunk and ulnar side of the bilateral arms. She had also progressive difficulty in taking hold of objects. On neurological examination she was alert and cooperative with normal articulation. The neck was supple. The cranial nerves were intact. Superficial sensation was bilaterally hypesthetic in the distribution from the 7th cervical through 12th thoracic segments. Mild weakness was distally noted in the upper extremities. Deep tendon reflexes were reduced or absent without laterality. Plantar responses were bilaterally flexor. Coordination and gait were normal. Routine laboratory examinations including blood counts, blood chemistries and urinalysis were unremarkable. Serum angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) was slightly elevated. A lumbar puncture yielded clear, colorless cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) containing 22 white cells/mm3 and protein of 106 mg/dl. Conventional nerve conduction studies were normal. F-wave conduction studies revealed elevated F-ratios for the upper and lower extremities. Studies of short-latency somatosensory evoked potential showed mild prolongation of N13 recorded after stimulation of the right median nerve. An X-ray film of the spine was unremarkable except for mild narrowing of the C5-6 intervertebral disk space. Postcontrast magnetic resonance imaging of the spine with gadolinium-DTPA was unrevealing as well as a precontrast study. A myelogram disclosed enlarged lateral filling defects corresponding to cervical nerve roots from C6 through C8 bilaterally.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)