A rare case of spinal epidural sarcoidosis: case report and review of the literature. 2021

Francesco Paglia, and Luca D'Angelo, and Daniele Armocida, and Luigi Sampirisi, and Felice Giangaspero, and Ludovica De Vincentiis, and Antonio Santoro
Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Neurosurgery, 'Sapienza' University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00146, Rome, Italy. francesco.paglia@hotmail.it.

Sarcoidosis is a rare systemic disease characterized by growth and organization of inflammatory cells in a granuloma. Granulomas can localize in any parts of the human body. The main localization is represented by lungs, lymph nodes, eyes and skin. Any organ, however, can be affected. Central nervous system (CNS) represents a rare localization of sarcoidosis, in fact, only 1% of patient with sarcoidosis present brain and/or spinal cord localization of the granulomas associated with this disease. This condition takes the name of Neurosarcoidosis. Its diagnosis and management pose a significant challenge, as its clinical manifestation and appearance in imaging studies are difficult to distinguish from more common lesion of the spinal cord. In this paper, we present the case of a 45-year-old woman who presented back pain associated with neurologic signs of myelopathy. Spinal cord MRI documented a T2 hyperintense signal around medullary conus. She underwent a gross total removal of the lesion. Histopathological examination revealed spinal sarcoidosis. Next total body CT scan did not show other localization of the disease. The aim of the present paper is to report a very rare case of spinal epidural sarcoidosis, actually only five cases have been described, without other localization of the disease. The present article underlines the difference between this forms of spinal sarcoidosis compared to intradural extramedullary and intramedullary spinal sarcoidosis.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D002493 Central Nervous System Diseases Diseases of any component of the brain (including the cerebral hemispheres, diencephalon, brain stem, and cerebellum) or the spinal cord. CNS Disease,Central Nervous System Disease,Central Nervous System Disorder,CNS Diseases,Central Nervous System Disorders
D004824 Epidural Space Space between the dura mater and the walls of the vertebral canal. Epidural Spaces,Space, Epidural,Spaces, Epidural
D005260 Female Females
D005938 Glucocorticoids A group of CORTICOSTEROIDS that affect carbohydrate metabolism (GLUCONEOGENESIS, liver glycogen deposition, elevation of BLOOD SUGAR), inhibit ADRENOCORTICOTROPIC HORMONE secretion, and possess pronounced anti-inflammatory activity. They also play a role in fat and protein metabolism, maintenance of arterial blood pressure, alteration of the connective tissue response to injury, reduction in the number of circulating lymphocytes, and functioning of the central nervous system. Glucocorticoid,Glucocorticoid Effect,Glucorticoid Effects,Effect, Glucocorticoid,Effects, Glucorticoid
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012507 Sarcoidosis An idiopathic systemic inflammatory granulomatous disorder comprised of epithelioid and multinucleated giant cells with little necrosis. It usually invades the lungs with fibrosis and may also involve lymph nodes, skin, liver, spleen, eyes, phalangeal bones, and parotid glands. Besnier-Boeck Disease,Boeck's Sarcoid,Besnier-Boeck-Schaumann Syndrome,Boeck Disease,Boeck's Disease,Schaumann Disease,Schaumann Syndrome,Schaumann's Syndrome,Besnier Boeck Disease,Besnier Boeck Schaumann Syndrome,Boeck Sarcoid,Boecks Disease,Boecks Sarcoid,Disease, Schaumann,Sarcoid, Boeck's,Sarcoidoses,Schaumann's Syndromes,Syndrome, Besnier-Boeck-Schaumann,Syndrome, Schaumann,Syndrome, Schaumann's
D013116 Spinal Cord A cylindrical column of tissue that lies within the vertebral canal. It is composed of WHITE MATTER and GRAY MATTER. Coccygeal Cord,Conus Medullaris,Conus Terminalis,Lumbar Cord,Medulla Spinalis,Myelon,Sacral Cord,Thoracic Cord,Coccygeal Cords,Conus Medullari,Conus Terminali,Cord, Coccygeal,Cord, Lumbar,Cord, Sacral,Cord, Spinal,Cord, Thoracic,Cords, Coccygeal,Cords, Lumbar,Cords, Sacral,Cords, Spinal,Cords, Thoracic,Lumbar Cords,Medulla Spinali,Medullari, Conus,Medullaris, Conus,Myelons,Sacral Cords,Spinal Cords,Spinali, Medulla,Spinalis, Medulla,Terminali, Conus,Terminalis, Conus,Thoracic Cords
D013118 Spinal Cord Diseases Pathologic conditions which feature SPINAL CORD damage or dysfunction, including disorders involving the meninges and perimeningeal spaces surrounding the spinal cord. Traumatic injuries, vascular diseases, infections, and inflammatory/autoimmune processes may affect the spinal cord. Myelopathy,Spinal Cord Disorders,Myelopathies,Spinal Cord Disease,Spinal Cord Disorder

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