Abstract
Neuropathic itch refers to pruritus caused by neuronal or glial damage. Neuropathic itch has numerous causes and can arise from a local nerve fiber compression, or localized or generalized nerve fiber degeneration affecting different neuronal structures in the peripheral or central nervous system. Although rather rarely, brain and spinal cord tumors can be responsible for neuropathic itch, that can be the symptom allowing their diagnosis. Main involved tumors are ependymomas, hemangiomas, giomas and astrocytomas. Differential diagnoses are strokes and demyelinating disorders.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Misery L, Brenaut E, Le Garrec R, Abasq C, Genestet S, Marcorelles P, Zagnoli F. Neuropathic pruritus. Nat Rev Neurol. 2014;10:408–16.
Stumpf A, Ständer S. Neuropathic itch: diagnosis and management. Dermatol Ther. 2013;26:104–9.
Andreev VC, Petkov I. Skin manifestations associated with tumors of the brain. Br J Dermatol. 1975;92:675–8.
Oaklander AL. Common neuropathic itch syndromes. Acta Derm Venereol. 2012;92:118–25.
Benesch M, Frappaz D, Massimino M. Spinal cord ependymomas in children and adolescents. Childs Nerv Syst. 2012;28:2017–28.
Kavak A, Dosoglu M. Can a spinal cord tumor cause brachioradial pruritus? J Am Acad Dermatol. 2002;46(3):437–40.
Fleuret C, Misery L. Prurit brachio-radial révélant un épendymome. Ann Dermatol Venereol. 2009;136:435–7.
Brenaut E, Nizery-Guermeur C, Audebert-Bellanger S, Ferkal S, Wolkenstien P, Misery L, Abasq-Thomas C. Clinical characteristics of pruritus in neurofibromatosis. Acta Derm Venereol. 2016;96:398–9.
Khosrotehrani K, Bastuji-Garin S, Riccardi VM, Birch P, Friedman JM, Wolkenstein P. Subcutaneous neurofibromas are associated with mortality in neurofibromatosis 1: a cohort study of 703 patients. Am J Med Genet. 2005;132A:49–53.
O’Brien DE, Brenner DS, Gutmann DH, Gereau RW. Assessment of pain and itch behavior in a mouse model of neurofibromatosis type 1. J Pain. 2013;14:628–37.
Johnson RE, Kanigsberg ND, Jimenez CL. Localized pruritus: a presenting symptom of a spinal cord tumor in a child with features of neurofibromatosis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2000;43:958–61.
Darken RS, Bogitch R, Leonard J, Perry A, McKinstry RC, Gutmann DH, et al. Brainstem glioma presenting as pruritus in children with neurofibromatosis-1. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2009;31:972–6.
Summers CG, MacDonald JT. Paroxysmal facial itch: a presenting sign of childhood brainstem glioma. J Child Neurol. 1988;3:189–92.
Dey DD, Landrum O, Oaklander AL. Central neuropathic itch from spinal-cord cavernous hemangioma: a human case, a possible animal model, and hypotheses about pathogenesis. Pain. 2005;113:233–7.
Vandertop WP. Syringomyelia. Neuropediatrics. 2014;45:3–9.
Kinsella LJ, Carney-Godley K, Feldmann E. Lichen simplex chronicus as the initial manifestation of intramedullary neoplasm and syringomyelia. Neurosurgery. 1992;30:418–21.
Sullivan MJ, Drake Jr ME. Unilateral pruritus and Nocardia brain abscess. Neurology. 1984;34:828–9.
West TW. Transverse myelitis – a review of the presentation, diagnosis and initial management. Discov Med. 2013;16:167–77.
Iyer A, Rathnasabapathi D, Elsone L, Mutch K, Terlizzo M, Footitt D, Jacob A. Transverse myelitis associated with an itchy rash and hyperckemia: neuromyelitis optica associated with dermatitis herpetiformis. JAMA Neurol. 2014;71:630–3.
Bond LD, Keough GC. Neurogenic pruritus: a case of pruritus induced by transverse myelitis. Br J Dermatol. 2003;149:204–5.
Thielen AM, Vokatch N, Borradori L. Chronic hemicorporal prurigo related to a post-traumatic Brown-Séquard syndrome. Dermatology. 2008;217:45–7.
Dhand A, Aminoff MJ. The neurology of itch. Brain. 2014;137:313–22.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2016 Springer-Verlag London
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Misery, L. (2016). Neuropathic Pruritus Secondary to Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors. In: Misery, L., Ständer, S. (eds) Pruritus. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-33142-3_28
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-33142-3_28
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-33140-9
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-33142-3
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)