Lumbar disc herniation mimicking meralgia paresthetica: Case report

BACKGROUND Meralgia paresthetica, a syndrome of pain and/or dysesthesia in the anterolateral thigh, is normally caused by an entrapment of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN) at the anterior superior iliac spine. In a few cases compression of the nerve in the retroperitoneum has been reported to mimic meralgia paresthetica. CASE DESCRIPTION A 67-year-old woman presented with a 5-year history of per manent paresthesia in the anterolateral thigh. Motor weakness was not detec ted. Electromyography showed a neurogenic lesion at the level of L3, Lumbar spine MRI detected a foraminal-extraforaminal disc herniation at L2/L3, wh ich was extirpated via a lateral transmuscular approach. The patient was fr ee of symptoms on the first postoperative day. CONCLUSION In patients with meralgia paresthetica we emphasize a complete r adiological investigation of the lumbar spine, including MRI, to exclude ra dicular compression by a disc herniation or a tumour at the level of L2 or L3. (C) 2000 by Elsevier Science Inc.