Spinal Cord Sarcoidosis Occurring at Sites of Spondylotic Stenosis, Mimicking Spondylotic Myelopathy: A Case Series and Review of the Literature

Sarcoidosis is a disease that can affect many parts of the body, sometimes including the spinal cord. This can cause symptoms similar to those caused by spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal canal. This study looks at five patients who had sarcoidosis of the spinal cord at the same location as spinal stenosis. The symptoms and appearance on imaging were very similar to those of spinal stenosis alone. The authors suggest that if a patient has spinal stenosis with unusual spinal cord findings on imaging, doctors should consider sarcoidosis as a possible cause, and investigate with chest imaging and possibly a lymph node biopsy.

• 1
  Intramedullary spinal neurosarcoidosis can mimic spondylotic myelopathy both clinically and on imaging.
• 2
  Intramedullary spinal neurosarcoidosis can occur in isolation at sites of spondylotic spinal canal stenosis.
• 3
  In patients with cord enhancement at or just below a site of spinal canal stenosis, chest imaging and lymph node biopsy should be considered to assess for underlying sarcoidosis.