Massive nerve root hypertrophy in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy.

In the course of investigating severe, shooting leg pains in a patient with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy, we observed massive nerve root enlargement on magnetic resonance imaging. Clinical evaluation ruled out other possible etiologies. Lumbar laminectomy was performed in an attempt to alleviate the pain, with poor results. A review of the literature revealed that seven similar cases have been reported in the past. We report another case and a review of the literature.