Neurosarcoidosis without systemic sarcoidosis--case report

A rare case of neurosarcoidosis occurred only in the medulla oblongata mimicking malignant brain tumor

Background:

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem disorder characterized by noncaseating epithelioid granulomas. However, neurosarcoidosis occurring only in the medulla oblongata is very rare and lacks specific imaging and clinical features. We report a rare case of neurosarcoidosis arising from the medulla oblongata alone, suggesting the significance of pathological findings for accurate diagnosis.

Case Description:

A 78-year-old woman with a history of rheumatoid arthritis was admitted to our hospital with a 3-month history of progressive numbness in bilateral lower extremities and gait disturbance. Neurological examination on admission showed mild bilateral paired paralysis of the lower limbs (manual muscle test: right 2/V; left 4/V) and marked numbness in the right lower limb. Neuroimaging revealed a solid mass with clear boundaries in the dorsal medulla oblongata appearing hypointense on T1-weighted imaging (WI), hyperintense on T2-WI, and hypointense on diffusion WI (DWI), with strong enhancement on gadolinium-enhanced T1-WI. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis showed moderately elevated levels of protein and lymphocytic cells. Biopsy to determine the exact diagnosis revealed histological findings of noncaseating epithelioid granulomas and inflammatory infiltration, consistent with sarcoidosis. Postoperatively, corticosteroid therapy with prednisolone was initiated as soon as possible, resulting in marked reductions in lesion size. Follow-up neuroimaging after 12 months showed no signs of recurrence.

Conclusion:

Neurosarcoidosis is difficult to diagnose from routine neuroimaging and laboratory findings. Accurate diagnosis requires careful identification of clinical signs, hypointensity on DWI, and morphological findings from surgical biopsy.

Acute central nervous system vasculitis as a manifestation of neurosarcoidosis: A case report and literature review

Neurosarcoidosis (NS) affects various sites of the central nervous system, including the cranial nerve, meninges, brain parenchyma, hypothalamus, and pituitary gland. NS rarely causes intracerebral vasculitis and subsequent strokes, or cerebral infarction and hemorrhage, which are associated with high mortality. Herein, we report a 71-year-old woman's case of stroke associated with NS, which showed aggressive cerebral vasculitis with brain herniation; it was resolved with corticosteroid therapy after accurate histopathological diagnosis. This case highlights the necessity of expecting NS to sometimes follow an aggressive course, presenting with vasculitis. Most patients with NS satisfactorily respond to corticosteroids, but this is not always the case. In cases of unfamiliar ischemic or hemorrhagic lesions, the possibility of NS must be considered.

Diagnosis and Treatment in Neurosarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory multisystem disorder, affecting many systems such as lung, lymph nodes, skin and eye involvement. Nervous system involvement is often seen in 5-15% of patients with systemic sarcoidosis in the first two years. Preceding to systemic involvement the initial symptom as neurological complaints has been rarely reported. Lacking of any specific, clinical and / or radiological findings for neurosarcoidosis in these cases, it could be difficult to make an accurate diagnosis and histopathological evaluation may be required. Due to rarity and complexity diagnosis of the neurosarcoidosis, in this study, clinical, radiological and / or histopathological features, treatment modalities of the 7 neurosarcoidosis patients to be presented with detailed investigations of different neurological symptoms were evaluated.

Neurosarcoïdose : état des connaissances

The origins of neurosarcoidosis, a multisystemic granulomatous disease, remain unknown. Nervous system localizations remain rare, but severe. Lymphocytic meningitis, psychiatric disorders, diabetes insipidus and cranial nerve palsy are the most frequent signs. Cerebral fluid test and cervical medullar and cerebral MRI with gadolinium have to be performed first. In some cases, histological evidence of granuloma have to be obtained with neuromuscular, meningeal or cerebral biopsies. Functional impairment and life-threatening conditions require early corticosteroid therapy. In worsening cases or in the event of no therapeutic response or poor tolerance to corticosteroids, other immunosuppressive agents should be associated. Maintenance therapy and most often life long maintenance therapy allow a continuous success while avoiding relapse.

Neurosarcoidosis: a clinical dilemma

Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory multisystem disorder of unknown cause. Practically no organ is immune to sarcoidosis; most commonly, in up to 90% of patients, it affects the lungs. The nervous system is involved in 5-15% of patients. Neurosarcoidosis is a serious and commonly devastating complication of sarcoidosis. Clinical diagnosis of neurosarcoidosis depends on the finding of neurological disease in multisystem sarcoidosis. As the disease can present in many different ways without biopsy evidence, solitary nervous-system sarcoidosis is difficult to diagnose. Corticosteroids are the drug of first choice. In addition, several cytotoxic drugs, including methotrexate, have been used to treat sarcoidosis. The value of new drugs such as anti-tumour necrosis factor alpha will be assessed. In this review we describe the clinical manifestations of neurosarcoidosis, diagnostic dilemmas and considerations, and therapy.

Intramedullary neurosarcoidosis in the medulla oblongata: a case report

OBJECTIVE

We present a rare case of neurosarcoidosis mimicking an intramedullary tumor in the medulla oblongata. The features of the clinical presentation, magnetic resonance (MRI) appearances, and management strategy are discussed.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 59-year-old man without evidence of systemic sarcoidosis was presented with a history of progressive numbness and deep sensation disturbance in bilateral lower extremities. MR imaging revealed an enhanced intra-axial mass lesion on the dorsal side of medulla. Under neurophysiological monitoring, tumor biopsy was performed. Pathologic evaluation revealed noncaseating granuloma composed of large epithelioid cells with multinucleated giant cells, suggesting sarcoidosis. Findings of comprehensive hematologic laboratory studies; cerebrospinal fluid examination; and examinations for bacteria, fungi, and acid fast bacilli were all negative. This mass lesion was diagnosed as medullary neurosarcoidosis, and then high-dose steroid therapy was tried. On follow-up, nearly complete resolution of the neurosarcoidosis on MRI was revealed.

CONCLUSION

To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of neurosarcoidosis manifested in the medulla oblongata. A biopsy is sufficient for a diagnosis and high-dose steroid is recommended.