Neurosarcoidosis Presenting as Young-Onset Chronic Headache: A Case Report

Abstract

Sarcoidosis causes granulomatous inflammation in multiple organ systems. Lungs are the most commonly affected organs. In 50% of the cases with lung involvement, other organs are also involved. The central nervous system is one of the rarer organ systems involved – comprising 5–15% of all the cases. Neurological involvement, when present, can affect virtually every part of the central and peripheral nervous system. We present an interesting case of a 30-year-old nonalcoholic, nonsmoker man who presented with a chronic headache of 6 years. He had a recent swaying of the body for 6 months and mild forgetfulness for 4 months. The patient had 2 episodes of facial nerve palsy in the past – which had responded to the treatment of Bell’s palsy; however, the patient had some residual findings on presentation. While CSF findings suggested meningeal tuberculosis, the radiological evidence and biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of neurosarcoidosis. On follow-up after 6 weeks of steroid therapy, the patient displayed a marked improvement in headache, cognitive function, and a good response on imaging studies. Our case emphasizes that neurosarcoidosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of chronic headaches and recurrent facial nerve palsy despite being very rare.

Keywords

• neurosarcoidosis
• chronic headache
• meningeal tuberculosis
• facial nerve palsy