Neurosarcoidosis

Neurosarcoidosis
Other names	Besnier-Boeck-Schaumann disease
This condition affects the cranial nerves
Specialty	Neurology
Diagnostic method	Biopsy
Treatment	immunosuppression

Neurosarcoidosis (sometimes shortened to neurosarcoid) refers to a type of sarcoidosis, a condition of unknown cause featuring granulomas in various tissues, in this type involving the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). Neurosarcoidosis can have many manifestations, but abnormalities of the cranial nerves (a group of twelve nerves supplying the head and neck area) are the most common. It may develop acutely, subacutely, and chronically. Approximately 5–10 percent of people with sarcoidosis of other organs (e.g. lung) develop central nervous system involvement. Only 1 percent of people with sarcoidosis will have neurosarcoidosis alone without involvement of any other organs. Diagnosis can be difficult, with no test apart from biopsy achieving a high accuracy rate. Treatment is with immunosuppression.^[1] The first case of sarcoidosis involving the nervous system was reported in 1905.^[2][3]