Foix-Alajouanine Syndrome Differential Diagnoses

Updated: Oct 03, 2023
  • Author: Cheryl Ann Palmer, MD; Chief Editor: Helmi L Lutsep, MD  more...
  • Print
DDx

Diagnostic Considerations

In its early stages, Foix-Alajouanine syndrome may mimic a polyradiculopathy or anterior horn cell disorder. By the time upper motor neurons or sacral segments are involved, making it obvious that Foix-Alajouanine syndrome is present, a patient may already have substantial neurologic deficits. [5] Patients sometimes undergo unsuccessful lumbar disk prolapse surgery. [5] An incorrect diagnosis of spinal cord tumor may result from patient presentation and imaging examinations.

Conditions to consider in the differential diagnosis of Foix-Alajouanine syndrome include the following:

  • Lumbosacral disk syndromes

  • Cervical disk syndromes

  • Lumbosacral spondylosis

  • Polyradiculopathy

  • Primary or metastatic neoplastic disease

  • Spinal arachnoiditis

  • Spinal artery thrombosis

  • Spinal injury

  • Hereditary spastic paraplegias

  • HIV infection

  • HTLV-1 infection

  • Lyme disease (late disseminated infection)

  • Syphilis

Differential Diagnoses