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Ency. home > Disease > N > Neurosarcoidosis

Neurosarcoidosis    See images

Overview | Symptoms | Treatment | Prevention

Alternative names:

Sarcoidosis - nervous system

Symptoms

Involvement of the pituitary gland can cause:

Involvement of the brain or cranial nerves: Involvement of one or more peripheral nerves: Note: The symptoms are highly variable. Any part of the nervous system may become involved in neurosarcoidosis. Involvement may be a single nerve, multiple nerves, or generalized.

Signs and Tests

An examination may indicate single nerve dysfunction (mononeuropathy) or dysfunction of multiple peripheral nerves (sensorimotor polyneuropathy). Signs may mimic diabetes insipidus, hypopituitarism, optic neuritis, meningitis, space-occupying lesions such as tumors, or other neurologic disorders.

A history of sarcoidosis followed by neurologic symptoms is highly suggestive of neurosarcoidosis. Blood tests are nonspecific. A lumbar puncture may show signs of inflammation. Elevated levels of angiotensin converting enzyme may be found in the blood or CSF.

If sarcoidosis is suspected but not already known, a chest X-ray often reveals lesions typical of the disorder. Nerve biopsy of affected nerve tissue confirms the disorder.

Ency. home > Disease > N > Neurosarcoidosis

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