BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuNeurosarcoidosisSarcoidosis - nervous systemNeurosarcoidosis is a form of sarcoidosis, in which inflammation occurs in the brain, spinal cord, and other areas of the nervous system.SarcoidosisSarcoidosis is a disease in which inflammation occurs in the lymph nodes, lungs, liver, eyes, skin, and/or other tissues.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Causes Sarcoidosis is a chronic disease that affects many parts of the body, mostly the lungs. In a small number of people, the disease involves some part of the nervous system. This is called neurosarcoidosis.Neurosarcoidosis may affect any part of the nervous system. Sudden facial weakness (facial palsy or facial droop) is a common neurological symptom that involves the nerves to the muscles of the face. Any other nerve in the skull can be affected, including those in the eye and those that control taste, smell, or hearing.Facial palsyBell palsy is a disorder of the nerve that controls movement of the muscles in the face. This nerve is called the facial or seventh cranial nerve. D...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The spinal cord is another part of the nervous system that sarcoidosis can affect. People may have weakness in their arms and legs, and difficulty walking or controlling their urine or bowels. In some cases, the spinal cord is so severely affected that both legs are paralyzed.The condition can also affect the parts of the brain involved in regulating many bodily functions, such as temperature, sleep, and stress responses. Other areas of the brain, including the pituitary gland at the base of the brain, can be affected.Involvement of muscles or peripheral nerves can cause weakness and sensory loss. MusclesWeakness is reduced strength in one or more muscles.Read Article Now Book Mark Article PeripheralPeripheral means "away from the center. " It refers to areas away from the center of the body or a body part. For example, the hands are peripheral ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Symptoms The symptoms vary. Any part of the nervous system can be affected. Involvement of the brain or cranial nerves can cause:Confusion, disorientation ConfusionConfusion is the inability to think as clearly or quickly as you normally do. You may feel disoriented and have difficulty paying attention, remembe...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Decreased hearing Decreased hearingHearing loss is being partly or totally unable to hear sound in one or both ears.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Dementia DementiaDementia is a loss of brain function that occurs with certain diseases. It affects one or more brain functions such as memory, thinking, language, j...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Dizziness, vertigo, or abnormal sensations of movement DizzinessDizziness is a term that is often used to describe 2 different symptoms: lightheadedness and vertigo. Lightheadedness is a feeling that you might fai...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article VertigoDizziness is a term that is often used to describe 2 different symptoms: lightheadedness and vertigo. Lightheadedness is a feeling that you might fai...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Double vision or other vision problems, including blindness Facial palsy (weakness, drooping) Headache Loss of sense of smell Loss of sense of smellImpaired smell is the partial or total loss or abnormal perception of the sense of smell.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Loss of sense of taste, abnormal tastes Loss of sense of tasteTaste impairment means there is a problem with your sense of taste. Problems range from distorted taste to a complete loss of the sense of taste. A...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Mental disturbances Seizures SeizuresA seizure is the physical changes in behavior that occurs during an episode of specific types of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. The term ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Speech impairmentInvolvement of the pituitary gland can cause:Changes in menstrual periods Excessive tiredness or fatigue Excessive tirednessFatigue is a feeling of weariness, tiredness, or lack of energy.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Excessive thirst Excessive thirstExcessive thirst is an abnormal feeling of always needing to drink fluids.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article High urine output High urine outputExcessive amount of urination means that your body makes larger than normal amounts of urine each day.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Weight changes Hair changesInvolvement of one or more peripheral nerves can lead to:Abnormal sensations in any body part Abnormal sensationsNumbness and tingling are abnormal sensations that can occur anywhere in your body, but they are often felt in your fingers, hands, feet, arms, or le...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Loss of movement of any body part Loss of movementMuscle function loss is when a muscle does not work or move normally. The medical term for complete loss of muscle function is paralysis.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Loss of sensation in any body part Weakness of any body part Exams and Tests A neurological exam may show problems with one or more nerves.A history of sarcoidosis followed by nerve-related symptoms highly suggests neurosarcoidosis. However, symptoms of the condition can mimic other medical disorders, including diabetes insipidus, hypopituitarism, multiple scleriosis, optic neuritis, meningitis, and certain tumors. Sometimes, the nervous system can be affected before a person is known to have sarcoidosis, or without affecting the lungs or other organs at all.Diabetes insipidusDiabetes insipidus (DI) is an uncommon condition in which the kidneys are unable to prevent the excretion of water. DI is not the same as diabetes me...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article HypopituitarismHypopituitarism is a condition in which the pituitary gland does not produce normal amounts of some or all of its hormones.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Multiple scleriosisMultiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that affects the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system).ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Optic neuritisThe optic nerve carries images of what the eye sees to the brain. When this nerve become swollen or inflamed, it is called optic neuritis. It may c...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article MeningitisMeningitis is an infection of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. This covering is called the meninges.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Blood tests are not very helpful in diagnosing the condition. A lumbar puncture may show signs of inflammation. Increased levels of angiotensin-converting enzyme may be found in the blood or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). However, this is not a reliable diagnostic test.Lumbar punctureCerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collection is a test to look at the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. CSF acts as a cushion, protecting the b...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article MRI of the brain and spinal cord may be helpful. A chest x-ray often reveals signs of sarcoidosis of the lungs. A biopsy of the affected tissue confirms the disorder. A biopsy of lymph nodes or other organs can show findings to support the diagnosis and to exclude other conditions. Sometimes a nerve or brain biopsy is needed.Chest x-rayA chest x-ray is an x-ray of the chest, lungs, heart, large arteries, ribs, and diaphragm.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article BiopsyA nerve biopsy is the removal of a small piece of a nerve for examination.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment There is no known cure for sarcoidosis. Treatment is given if symptoms are severe or are getting worse. The goal of treatment is to reduce symptoms.Corticosteroids such as prednisone are prescribed to reduce inflammation. They are often prescribed until symptoms get better or go away. You may need to take the medicines for months, or even years.Other medicines may include hormone replacement and medicines that suppress the immune system.If you have numbness, weakness, vision or hearing problems, or other problems due to damage of the nerves in the brain and spinal cord, you may need physical therapy, braces, a cane, walker, or wheelchair.Mental disorders or dementia may require medicines for depression, safety interventions, and assistance with care. Outlook (Prognosis) Some cases go away on their own in 4 to 6 months. Others continue off and on for the rest of the person's life. Neurosarcoidosis can cause permanent disability and, in some cases, death. Possible Complications Complications vary, depending on which part of the nervous system is involved and how you respond to treatment. Slowly worsening or permanent loss of neurological function is possible. In rare cases, the brainstem may be involved. This is life threatening. When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your health care provider if you have sarcoidosis and any neurological symptoms occur.Go to the emergency room or call 911 or the local emergency number if you have a sudden loss of sensation, movement, or body function. Prevention Aggressive treatment of sarcoidosis turns off the body's faulty immune response before your nerves become damaged. This may reduce the chance that neurological symptoms will occur.Open ReferencesReferencesIannuzzi MC. Sarcoidosis. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 89.Josephson SA, Aminoff MJ. Neurological complications of systemic disease: adults. In: Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, Newman NJ, eds. Bradley and Daroff's Neurology in Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 58.Murphy OC, Krumholz A, Stern BJ. Sarcoidosis of the nervous system. In: Aminoff MJ, Josephson SA, eds. Aminoff's Neurology and General Medicine. 6th ed. Waltham, MA: Elsevier Academic Press; 2021:chap 49.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute website. Sarcoidosis. www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/sarcoidosis. Updated March 24, 2022. Accessed February 9, 2023.AllVideoImagesTogSarcoid, stage I - chest X-ray - illustration Sarcoid is primarily a lung (pulmonary) disease. In the early stages, a chest film may show enlargement of lymph nodes in the center of the chest near the heart (mediastinum).Sarcoid, stage I - chest X-rayillustrationSarcoid, stage II - chest X-ray - illustration Sarcoid causes damage to the lung tissue that heals by scarring. The film shows a diffuse milky and granular appearance in the normally dark lung areas. This individual has marked decrease in lung function.Sarcoid, stage II - chest X-rayillustrationSarcoid, stage IV - chest x-ray - illustration This film shows advanced sarcoid, scarring of the lungs (the light streaking), and cavity formation (the dark areas in the upper right side of the picture).Sarcoid, stage IV - chest x-rayillustrationSarcoid, stage I - chest X-ray - illustration Sarcoid is primarily a lung (pulmonary) disease. In the early stages, a chest film may show enlargement of lymph nodes in the center of the chest near the heart (mediastinum).Sarcoid, stage I - chest X-rayillustrationSarcoid, stage II - chest X-ray - illustration Sarcoid causes damage to the lung tissue that heals by scarring. The film shows a diffuse milky and granular appearance in the normally dark lung areas. This individual has marked decrease in lung function.Sarcoid, stage II - chest X-rayillustrationSarcoid, stage IV - chest x-ray - illustration This film shows advanced sarcoid, scarring of the lungs (the light streaking), and cavity formation (the dark areas in the upper right side of the picture).Sarcoid, stage IV - chest x-rayillustrationRelated Information Sarcoidosis(Condition)Chronic(Special Topic)Bell palsy(Condition)Weakness(Symptoms)Peripheral(Special Topic) Review Date: 1/23/2023 Reviewed By: Joseph V. Campellone, MD, Department of Neurology, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
NeurosarcoidosisSarcoidosis - nervous systemNeurosarcoidosis is a form of sarcoidosis, in which inflammation occurs in the brain, spinal cord, and other areas of the nervous system.SarcoidosisSarcoidosis is a disease in which inflammation occurs in the lymph nodes, lungs, liver, eyes, skin, and/or other tissues.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Causes Sarcoidosis is a chronic disease that affects many parts of the body, mostly the lungs. In a small number of people, the disease involves some part of the nervous system. This is called neurosarcoidosis.Neurosarcoidosis may affect any part of the nervous system. Sudden facial weakness (facial palsy or facial droop) is a common neurological symptom that involves the nerves to the muscles of the face. Any other nerve in the skull can be affected, including those in the eye and those that control taste, smell, or hearing.Facial palsyBell palsy is a disorder of the nerve that controls movement of the muscles in the face. This nerve is called the facial or seventh cranial nerve. D...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The spinal cord is another part of the nervous system that sarcoidosis can affect. People may have weakness in their arms and legs, and difficulty walking or controlling their urine or bowels. In some cases, the spinal cord is so severely affected that both legs are paralyzed.The condition can also affect the parts of the brain involved in regulating many bodily functions, such as temperature, sleep, and stress responses. Other areas of the brain, including the pituitary gland at the base of the brain, can be affected.Involvement of muscles or peripheral nerves can cause weakness and sensory loss. MusclesWeakness is reduced strength in one or more muscles.Read Article Now Book Mark Article PeripheralPeripheral means "away from the center. " It refers to areas away from the center of the body or a body part. For example, the hands are peripheral ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Symptoms The symptoms vary. Any part of the nervous system can be affected. Involvement of the brain or cranial nerves can cause:Confusion, disorientation ConfusionConfusion is the inability to think as clearly or quickly as you normally do. You may feel disoriented and have difficulty paying attention, remembe...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Decreased hearing Decreased hearingHearing loss is being partly or totally unable to hear sound in one or both ears.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Dementia DementiaDementia is a loss of brain function that occurs with certain diseases. It affects one or more brain functions such as memory, thinking, language, j...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Dizziness, vertigo, or abnormal sensations of movement DizzinessDizziness is a term that is often used to describe 2 different symptoms: lightheadedness and vertigo. Lightheadedness is a feeling that you might fai...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article VertigoDizziness is a term that is often used to describe 2 different symptoms: lightheadedness and vertigo. Lightheadedness is a feeling that you might fai...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Double vision or other vision problems, including blindness Facial palsy (weakness, drooping) Headache Loss of sense of smell Loss of sense of smellImpaired smell is the partial or total loss or abnormal perception of the sense of smell.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Loss of sense of taste, abnormal tastes Loss of sense of tasteTaste impairment means there is a problem with your sense of taste. Problems range from distorted taste to a complete loss of the sense of taste. A...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Mental disturbances Seizures SeizuresA seizure is the physical changes in behavior that occurs during an episode of specific types of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. The term ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Speech impairmentInvolvement of the pituitary gland can cause:Changes in menstrual periods Excessive tiredness or fatigue Excessive tirednessFatigue is a feeling of weariness, tiredness, or lack of energy.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Excessive thirst Excessive thirstExcessive thirst is an abnormal feeling of always needing to drink fluids.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article High urine output High urine outputExcessive amount of urination means that your body makes larger than normal amounts of urine each day.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Weight changes Hair changesInvolvement of one or more peripheral nerves can lead to:Abnormal sensations in any body part Abnormal sensationsNumbness and tingling are abnormal sensations that can occur anywhere in your body, but they are often felt in your fingers, hands, feet, arms, or le...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Loss of movement of any body part Loss of movementMuscle function loss is when a muscle does not work or move normally. The medical term for complete loss of muscle function is paralysis.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Loss of sensation in any body part Weakness of any body part Exams and Tests A neurological exam may show problems with one or more nerves.A history of sarcoidosis followed by nerve-related symptoms highly suggests neurosarcoidosis. However, symptoms of the condition can mimic other medical disorders, including diabetes insipidus, hypopituitarism, multiple scleriosis, optic neuritis, meningitis, and certain tumors. Sometimes, the nervous system can be affected before a person is known to have sarcoidosis, or without affecting the lungs or other organs at all.Diabetes insipidusDiabetes insipidus (DI) is an uncommon condition in which the kidneys are unable to prevent the excretion of water. DI is not the same as diabetes me...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article HypopituitarismHypopituitarism is a condition in which the pituitary gland does not produce normal amounts of some or all of its hormones.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Multiple scleriosisMultiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that affects the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system).ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Optic neuritisThe optic nerve carries images of what the eye sees to the brain. When this nerve become swollen or inflamed, it is called optic neuritis. It may c...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article MeningitisMeningitis is an infection of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. This covering is called the meninges.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Blood tests are not very helpful in diagnosing the condition. A lumbar puncture may show signs of inflammation. Increased levels of angiotensin-converting enzyme may be found in the blood or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). However, this is not a reliable diagnostic test.Lumbar punctureCerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collection is a test to look at the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. CSF acts as a cushion, protecting the b...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article MRI of the brain and spinal cord may be helpful. A chest x-ray often reveals signs of sarcoidosis of the lungs. A biopsy of the affected tissue confirms the disorder. A biopsy of lymph nodes or other organs can show findings to support the diagnosis and to exclude other conditions. Sometimes a nerve or brain biopsy is needed.Chest x-rayA chest x-ray is an x-ray of the chest, lungs, heart, large arteries, ribs, and diaphragm.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article BiopsyA nerve biopsy is the removal of a small piece of a nerve for examination.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment There is no known cure for sarcoidosis. Treatment is given if symptoms are severe or are getting worse. The goal of treatment is to reduce symptoms.Corticosteroids such as prednisone are prescribed to reduce inflammation. They are often prescribed until symptoms get better or go away. You may need to take the medicines for months, or even years.Other medicines may include hormone replacement and medicines that suppress the immune system.If you have numbness, weakness, vision or hearing problems, or other problems due to damage of the nerves in the brain and spinal cord, you may need physical therapy, braces, a cane, walker, or wheelchair.Mental disorders or dementia may require medicines for depression, safety interventions, and assistance with care. Outlook (Prognosis) Some cases go away on their own in 4 to 6 months. Others continue off and on for the rest of the person's life. Neurosarcoidosis can cause permanent disability and, in some cases, death. Possible Complications Complications vary, depending on which part of the nervous system is involved and how you respond to treatment. Slowly worsening or permanent loss of neurological function is possible. In rare cases, the brainstem may be involved. This is life threatening. When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your health care provider if you have sarcoidosis and any neurological symptoms occur.Go to the emergency room or call 911 or the local emergency number if you have a sudden loss of sensation, movement, or body function. Prevention Aggressive treatment of sarcoidosis turns off the body's faulty immune response before your nerves become damaged. This may reduce the chance that neurological symptoms will occur.Open ReferencesReferencesIannuzzi MC. Sarcoidosis. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 89.Josephson SA, Aminoff MJ. Neurological complications of systemic disease: adults. In: Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, Newman NJ, eds. Bradley and Daroff's Neurology in Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 58.Murphy OC, Krumholz A, Stern BJ. Sarcoidosis of the nervous system. In: Aminoff MJ, Josephson SA, eds. Aminoff's Neurology and General Medicine. 6th ed. Waltham, MA: Elsevier Academic Press; 2021:chap 49.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute website. Sarcoidosis. www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/sarcoidosis. Updated March 24, 2022. Accessed February 9, 2023.