[Neurosarcoidosis]

Frequency of nervous involvement in patients with sarcoidosis is 6.4% in Japan. Among them, half of the neurosarcoidosis patient shows central nervous involvement. A classification of neurosarcoidosis was made as follows; A) central nervous system involvement, 1) granulomatous meningoencephalitis, 2) intracerebral granuloma, 3) hydrocephalus, 4) hypothalamus/pituitary involvement, B) peripheral nervous system involvement, 1) cranial nerve involvement, 2) spinal nerve involvement. A criteria of neurosarcoidosis was presented; A) definite neurosarcoidosis (pathology proven) a case in which nervous involvement of sarcoidosis was proven pathologically, B) probable neurosarcoidosis (laboratory proven) a case in which laboratory data or radiological exam. was proven, C) possible neurosarcoidosis (clinical sign only) sarcoidosis patient with neurological sign. Autopsy cases demonstrated multiple cranial nerves involvement without any cranial nerve symptoms. Spinal and cranial nerve involvement seems to be much more frequent than it is believed.