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Sarcoidosis presenting as progressive myelopathy
H Terunuma1, H Konno, H Iizuka
1Department of Neurological Sciences, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.
Clinical Neuropathology
|March 1, 1988
Summary
This case study reports intramedullary spinal cord sarcoidosis, a rare condition. Autopsy confirmed sarcoidosis in the spinal cord, heart, and lymph nodes, aiding diagnosis in similar spinal cord-only cases.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pathology
- Immunology
Background:
- Intramedullary spinal cord sarcoidosis is a rare neurological manifestation of sarcoidosis.
- Symptoms are often slowly progressive and exclusively spinal cord-related, complicating diagnosis.
Observation:
- A case presented with progressive neurological deficits solely attributable to the spinal cord.
- Initial biopsy revealed granulomatous inflammation but was inconclusive for sarcoidosis.
Findings:
- Autopsy confirmed disseminated sarcoid granulomas within the lower cervical and upper thoracic spinal cord.
- Additional granulomas were found in hilar lymph nodes and the heart's papillary muscle.
Implications:
- This case highlights the importance of considering sarcoidosis in unexplained myelopathy.
- Reviewing similar spinal cord-exclusive cases aids in developing diagnostic clues for this rare condition.