Magnetic resonance imaging of neurosarcoidosis

J Clin Imaging Sci. 2011:1:15. doi: 10.4103/2156-7514.76693. Epub 2011 Feb 11.

Abstract

Neurosarcoidosis is an uncommon condition with protean manifestations. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is often used in the diagnostic evaluation and follow-up of patients with neurosarcoidosis. Therefore, familiarity with the variety of MRI appearances is important. In this pictorial essay, the range of possible patterns of involvement in neurosarcoidosis are depicted and discussed. These include intracranial and spine leptomeningeal involvement, cortical and cerebral white matter lesions, corpus callosum involvement, sellar and suprasellar involvement, periventricular involvement, cranial nerve involvement, cavernous sinus involvement, hydrocephalus, dural involvement, ischemic lesions, perivascular involvement, orbit lesions, osseous involvement, nerve root involvement, and spinal cord intramedullary involvement. Differential diagnoses for each pattern of involvement of neurosarcoidosis are also provided.

Keywords: Brain; MRI; neurosarcoidosis; orbit; skull; spine.