A Central Nervous System Tumor Mimicking a Lumbar Spine Pathology Causing Acute Foot Drop: A Case Report

Common causes for foot drop are peroneal mono-neuropathy or sciatic neuropathy and lumbar root compression. Central nervous system pathologies leading to isolated drop foot are rare etiologies with unknown incidence.

Our patient had a brain tumor manifested as acute onset foot drop accompanied by low back pain, leading us to look for a lumbar pathology. In this case study, we describe the clinical management from the first encounter to diagnosis.

Full diagnostic work up of acute foot drop should take into consideration peripheral versus central etiologies.