Neurosarcoidosis resulting in thoracic radiculopathy: a case report

Background Thoracic radiculopathy is a rare etiology of vague abdominal pain. There are few reports of neurosarcoidosis manifesting as a thoracic radiculopathy, which highlights the diagnostic challenge. Case presentation A 54-year-old Caucasian man was being investigated for right upper quadrant abdominal pain and was found to have diffuse lymphadenopathy on imaging. He was eventually diagnosed with sarcoidosis. Over time, his abdominal pain progressed to neuropathic pain along his T7-T11 dermatome. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed findings consistent with a thoracic radiculopathy due to neurosarcoidosis. The patient received corticosteroids for treatment of neurosarcoidosis and immunosuppressant therapy to manage neuropathic pain. Conclusions This case report highlights the importance of considering thoracic radiculopathies in the differential diagnosis of vague abdominal pain and explores guidelines in diagnosing neurosarcoidosis in the absence of neural tissue biopsy.