Sarcoidosis of the Central Nervous System

A 32 year-old man with a known history of sarcoidosis developed progressive headaches and blurred vision.


Show the Enhancement of the Optic Nerves                                     Show the Enhancement of the Meninges

Neurosarcoidosis: (Left) T1-weighted MRI; (Right) T1-weighted with gadolinium coronal MRI. Note that on the contrast scan on the right, both optic nerves enhance, as do the meninges.

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem disease associated with granulomatous inflammation. The most commonly affected organs include the lungs, lymph nodes and skin. Neurological involvement is seen in approximately 5% of cases, resulting in neurosarcoidosis. Neurosarcoidosis can affect almost any part the central or peripheral nervous system, but has a propensity for the following areas:

● Cranial nerves, especially II, VII, and VIII
● Meninges
● Hypothalamus, including the optic chiasm and pituitary gland (resulting in diabetes insipidus)

Revised 11/23/06
Copyrighted 2006. David C Preston