[Differential diagnosis of solitary neurosarcoidosis]

Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory multisystemic disease characterised by noncaseating epithelioid granulomas. The lung is affected in over 90% of patients. According to clinical criteria, the nervous system is involved in 5-9%. However, in autopsy series this number increases to 25%. Solitary involvement of the nervous system without signs of systemic disease is rare and diagnostically cryptic. Due to the wide variety of neurologic symptoms, definite diagnosis of sarcoidosis is possible only by histopathological proof of noncaseating epithelioid granulomas. We report a 51-year-old woman who presented with chronic basal meningitis and involvement of the peripheral and central nervous system due to solitary neurosarcoidosis. Diagnostic procedures and differential diagnosis are discussed.