MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING OF THE CAUDA-EQUINA IN GUILLAIN-BARRE-SYNDROME

We report three patients (two children and one adult) with Guillain-Ba rre syndrome and magnetic resonance imaging evidence of gadolinium enh ancement of the cauda equina and lumbar nerve roots. All three patient s exhibited symmetric ascending paralysis and areflexia, and two (one child, one adult) suffered urinary incontinence and retention. Similar enhancement has been observed in patients with chronic inflammatory d emyelinating polyneuropathy and suggests proximal nerve inflammation. Magnetic resonance imaging in Guillain-Barre syndrome and chronic infl ammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy may have diagnostic utility.