[Spinal manifestations of sarcoidosis]

This is a report on the spinal manifestation of sarcoidosis, which has heretofore been infrequently dealt with in the specialized literature. In addition to diffuse manifestation, there has become known circumscribed and solitary manifestation with tumorous symptomatology as a result of spinal compression. Transverse syndromes, pareses, manifestations of sensibility, and disorders of the bladder and rectum are of major clinical importance in this connection. Pathomorphologically, it is possible to distinguish granulomatous leptomeningitis, myelitis, and (poly-) radiculitis, combined simultaneous involvement being frequently observed. So far as differential diagnosis is concerned, considerable difficulties are encountered especially in the case of isolated spinal monosymptomatology. Prognosis, because of special topographic conditions, is less favorable than for other organic manifestations. Secondary phenomena and complications are often responsible for the consequences of spinal sarcoidosis. In addition to spontaneous healing, treatment with corticosteroids (of acute disease processes which, however, are a relatively rare occurrence) and surgical operation (in the case of solitary spinal sarcoid granulomata with compression syndromes) have proven to be most successful.