ABSTRACT
Sarcoidosis is a multi-organ granulomatous disease of unknown etiology. Neurological involvement in sarcoidosis is uncommon but cranial mononeuropathies, especially involving the VII and VIII cranial nerves, are highly suggestive of neurosarcoidosis. We report the case of a 54-year-old woman who presented with fever, night sweats, weight loss, polyarthralgia, and bilateral hearing loss. Mediastinal and hilar lymphadenopathies with hypercaptation on positive emission tomography (PET) scans were present. Low-dose steroids were ineffective. She then developed bilateral anterior uveitis and right-sided peripheral facial palsy. Head magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed inflammatory involvement of the right cochlea, geniculate ganglion, and bilateral vestibulocochlear bundle. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis was compatible with aseptic meningitis. Excisional biopsy of mediastinal lymph nodes confirmed the presence of noncaseating granulomas. The diagnosis of systemic sarcoidosis with serious neurological involvement was made and treatment with high-dose steroids led to significant clinical improvement. Sarcoidosis remains a diagnosis of exclusion based on supportive clinical, radiological, and histological findings. This case highlights the challenge it was to diagnose this disorder. Neurologic involvement in sarcoidosis is relatively uncommon and has an unpredictable clinical course and prognosis.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Potentially life-threatening disorders may present in the emergency department with acute tetraparesis, and their recognition is crucial for an appropriate management and timely treatment. Our review aims to systematize the differential diagnosis of acute non-traumatic tetraparesis. RESULTS: Causes of tetraparesis can be classified based on the site of defect: upper motor neuron (UMN), peripheral nerve, neuromuscular junction or muscle. History of present illness should include the distribution of weakness (symmetric/asymmetric or distal/proximal/diffuse) and associated clinical features (pain, sensory findings, dysautonomia, and cranial nerve abnormalities such as diplopia and dysphagia). Neurological examination, particularly tendon reflexes, helps further in the localization of nerve lesions and distinction between UMN and lower motor neuron. Ancillary studies include blood and cerebral spinal fluid analysis, neuroaxis imaging, electromyography, muscle magnetic resonance and muscle biopsy. CONCLUSIONS: Acute tetraparesis is still a debilitating and potentially serious neurological condition. Despite all the supplementary ancillary tests, the neurological examination is the key to achieve a correct diagnosis. The identification of life-threatening neurologic disorders is pivotal, since failing to identify patients at risk of complications, such as acute respiratory failure, may have catastrophic results.
