Neoplastic nerve lesions

Though metastasis and malignant infiltration of the peripheral nervous system is relatively rare, physicians should have a familiarity with their presentations to allow for prompt diagnosis and initiation of treatment. This article will review the clinical presentations, diagnostic evaluation, and t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Neurological sciences 2022-05, Vol.43 (5), p.3019-3038
Main Authors: Patel, Deep K., Gwathmey, Kelly G.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Breast cancer
Cranial nerves
Demyelination
Familiarity
Humans
Infiltration
Lung cancer
Male
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Meninges
Metastases
Metastasis
Mimicry
Neoplasia
Neoplasms
Nervous system
Neurology
Neurolymphomatosis - pathology
Neuroradiology
Neurosciences
Neurosurgery
Peripheral Nerves
Peripheral neuropathy
Prognosis
Prostate cancer
Psychiatry
Review Article
Skull
The growing role for neurology in neuro-oncology
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Summary:Though metastasis and malignant infiltration of the peripheral nervous system is relatively rare, physicians should have a familiarity with their presentations to allow for prompt diagnosis and initiation of treatment. This article will review the clinical presentations, diagnostic evaluation, and treatment of neoplastic involvement of the cranial nerves, nerve roots, peripheral nerves, and muscle. Due to the proximity of the neural structure traversing the skull base, metastasis to this region results in distinctive syndromes, most often associated with breast, lung, and prostate cancer. Metastatic involvement of the nerve roots is uncommon, apart from leptomeningeal carcinomatosis and bony metastasis with resultant nerve root damage, and is characterized by significant pain, weakness, and numbness of an extremity. Neoplasms may metastasize or infiltrate the brachial and lumbosacral plexuses resulting in progressive and painful sensory and motor deficits. Differentiating neoplastic involvement from radiation-induced injury is of paramount importance as it dictates treatment and prognosis. Neurolymphomatosis, due to malignant lymphocytic infiltration of the cranial nerves, nerve roots, plexuses, and peripheral nerves, deserves special attention given its myriad presentations, often mimicking acquired demyelinating neuropathies.
ISSN:1590-1874
1590-3478
DOI:10.1007/s10072-022-05951-x