GRANULOMATOUS ANGIITIS OF THE MENINGES IN SARCOIDOSIS

Abstract

ALTHOUGH involvement of cranial and peripheral nerves by sarcoidosis is well recognized, 1 sarcoidosis affecting the central nervous system and meninges is rare. From a review of the literature, there appear to be only 21 cases in which such a diagnosis was substantiated at necropsy and 4 cases in which the diagnosis was confirmed, by surgical biopsy. In many of the reports few or no clinical data are given, and the pathological studies are meager. Since sarcoidosis is a disease, or a group of diseases, of unknown etiology, 2 it is best recognized by its clinicopathological features. Involvement of the nervous sytem by sarcoidosis has been critically discussed in several papers in the last decade, 3 and there is ample evidence both from clinical and from autopsy data that the brain, spinal cord, optic chiasm, meninges, and pituitary gland may be involved. Involvement of the central nervous system may be