Clinical Reasoning: A Young Woman With Rapidly Progressive Weakness and Paresthesia

A 24-year-old Middle Eastern woman presented with a 2-month history of rapidly progressive asymmetric weakness and paresthesia that began in her left lower extremity and progressed to involve both legs and arms. It was associated with overflow urinary incontinence and significant weight loss. In addition, she complained of a constant occipital headache that worsened in the supine position and was associated with photophobia, tinnitus, nausea, vomiting, and horizontal binocular diplopia. She also had signs of meningismus, decreased left facial sensation, and right sensorineural hearing loss. Because multifocal localization suggests a wide variety of possible differential diagnoses, this study expands on the differential of a subacute multifocal process while highlighting the importance of identifying appropriate risk factors and performing a relevant yet focused diagnostic workup.

Automated summary

This case report describes a 24-year-old Middle Eastern woman with a 2-month history of progressive asymmetric weakness and paresthesia. The patient presented with urinary incontinence, weight loss, occipital headache, photophobia, tinnitus, nausea, vomiting, diplopia, meningismus, facial sensation loss, and hearing loss. The study highlights the importance of differential diagnosis in subacute multifocal processes.