Multilevel Spinal Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors: Imaging and Clinical Pearls
Spinal Schwannoma Mimicking CIDP: A Diagnostic Journey and Neuroradiological Analysis Introduction The diagnostic complexity of progressive upper extremity weakness often leads clinicians down a path of neurological assessment that initially favors systemic or inflammatory conditions. In the realm of neuroradiology and clinical neurology, distinguishing between chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) and structural spinal tumors is a high-stakes endeavor. When a 36-year-old male presents with a multi-year progression of hand weakness leading to bilateral upper extremity atrophy, the clinical differential must remain broad. This case illustrates a rare presentation of multilevel spinal peripheral nerve sheath tumors—specifically, schwannoma—initially masquerading as CIDP. Clinical Background: The Diagnostic Trap The patient’s journey began five years prior, starting with unilateral thumb weakness that gradually evolved into bilateral uppe...