[Spontaneous acquired localized neuropathies in childhood]

Acquired non-surgical, non-traumatic localized neuropathies, excluding cranial nerve disorders, are rare in infancy. We review the clinical histories of six children, studied for this disorders amongst a total of 2,105 children seen in the Neuropediatric Department of the Hospital Miguel Servet in Zaragoza. Two were diagnosed as familial neuropathy with pressure sensitive paralysis. Two plexopathies were considered to be familial brachial plexopathy with minor dysmorphic features. One case was diagnosed as idiopathic radial neuropathy and a further case as idiopathic lumbosacral plexopathy. We emphasize that although rare in pediatrics, spontaneous localized neuropathies often show constitutional pathology, frequently hereditary. Idiophatic cases may also be hereditary, and it may be difficult to confirm the diagnosis if there is no family history or phenotypic characteristics. Diagnosis depends on the personal and family history, physical examination, neurophysiological study, absence of abnormal neuroimaging findings and awareness of the possibility of this diagnosis. These disorders probably occur more often than is generally believed.