Sarcoidosis presenting as cervical radiculopathy: a case report and literature review

A unique case of sarcoidosis, presenting as a unilateral multilevel cervical radiculopathy without spinal cord compression, is discussed. The clinical presentation, along with the initial myelographic findings and emphasis on local compressive etiologies delayed the diagnosis. The aim of this report is to focus on this unique entity and to review its role in the differential diagnosis of patients with atypical cervical radiculopathy. A pleocytosis of cerebrospinal fluid, an increase in protein concentration, and hypoglycorrhachia support the diagnosis of spinal cord sarcoidosis. While the outlook for patients with spinal cord sarcoid is poor, improvement of neurologic deficits has been documented after steroid therapy. A review of the literature on sarcoid involvement of the spinal cord and roots is summarized.