Demographics:
3 years old, Female
Indication:
Bilateral leg pain and weakness
Findings
- Diffuse enhancement of nerve roots in the cauda equina, with the ventral nerve roots enhancing more avidly than the dorsal nerve roots
- No associated nodular enhancement or nerve root thickening
- Normal signal and contour of the conus, which terminates in normal position at the level of L1
- Normal marrow signal
- Normal alignment
- Distended urinary bladder with mild fullness of the right renal collecting system
- Large colonic stool burden
Diagnosis
Guillain-Barré syndrome
Sample Report
Diffuse enhancement of nerve roots in the cauda equina, with the ventral nerve roots enhancing slightly more avidly than the dorsal nerve roots. This appearance is concerning for Guillain-Barré syndrome or meningitis. Recommend correlation with CSF analysis. The absence of nodular enhancement makes leptomeningeal neoplastic disease unlikely.
Discussion