Abstract
The central nervous system is involved in 10–20% of cases in Lyme disease. The neurological symptoms, time course of the disease and imaging findings are multifaceted. We report two patients with cervical radiculitis. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed strong enhancement of the cervical nerve roots on contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images. These imaging patterns of borrelia-associated radiculitis have not been reported before. Knowledge of these imaging features may help to diagnose neuroborreliosis, which presents with non-specific symptoms.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Halperin JJ, Volkmann DJ, Wu P (1991) Central nervous system abnormalities in Lyme neuroborreliosis. Neurology 41:1571–1582
Fernandez RE, Rothberg M, Ferencz G, Wujack D (1990) Lyme disease of the CNS: MR imaging findings in 14 cases. Am J Neuroradiol 11:479–481
Vanzieleghem B, Lemmerling M, Carton D et al (1998) Lyme disease in a child presenting with bilateral facial nerve palsy: MRI findings and review of the literature. Neuroradiology 40:739–742
Demaerel P, Wilms G, Van Lierde S, Delanote J, Baert AL (1994) Lyme disease in childhood presenting as primary leptomeningeal enhancement without parenchymal findings on MR. Am J Neuroradiol 15:302–304
Mantienne C, Albucher JF, Catalaa I, Sevely A, Cognard C, Manelfe C (2001) MRI in Lyme disease of the spinal cord. Neuroradiology 43:485–488
Demaerel P, Crevits I, Casteels-Van Daele M, Baert AL (1998) Meningoradiculitis due to borreliosis presenting as low back pain only. Neuroradiology 40:126–127
Sartoretti-Schefer S, Wichmann W, Valavanis A (1996) Inflammatory lesions of the spinal cord and the nerve roots in magnetic resonance imaging. Radiologe 36:890–896
Benach JL, Bosler EM, Hanrahan JP (1983) Spirochetes isolated from the blood of two patients with Lyme disease. N Engl J Med 308:740–742
Burgdorfer W, Lane RS, Barbour AG, Gresbrink RA, Anderson JR (1985) The Western black-legged tick, Ixodes pacificus: a vector of Borrelia burgdorferi. Am J Trop Med Hyg 34:925–930
Belman AL, Iyer M, Coyle PK, Dattwyler R (1993) Neurologic manifestations in children with North American Lyme disease. Neurology 43:2609–2614
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank Marina Eberhardt for technical assistance and Dr. Bernard Yan for editing the manuscript.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hattingen, E., Weidauer, S., Kieslich, M. et al. MR imaging in neuroborreliosis of the cervical spinal cord. Eur Radiol 14, 2072–2075 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-004-2300-x
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-004-2300-x