Brachioradial pruritus in a 52-year-old woman: A case report

Abstract

HighlightsBrachioradial pruritus is a specific subtype of neuropathic pruritus that commonly presents in women.Brachioradial pruritus presents mostly as a dorsal forearm itch.This condition is more common in fair-skinned females.This condition is exacerbated by exposure to bright sunlight and ultraviolet radiation.This condition is associated with degenerative changes in the cervical spine.

Brachioradial Pruritus: Clinical, Electromyographic, and Cervical MRI Features in Nine Patients

“…While it is unclear whether cervical radiculopathy is the major causative factor in BRP [1,3,18,19], increased rates of cervical spine disease from C5-C8 have been described in BRP [3,4,9]. BRP has been reported in patients with cervical disc herniation, osteophytes, neural foraminal stenosis, spinal neoplasms such as ependymoma, post-traumatic syringomyelia, and following an incomplete traumatic cervical spinal cord injury (C6 motor and sensory level bilaterally) with C6-7 posterior instrumentation and fusion [1,14,[19][20][21][22].…”

“…The diagnosis of BRP may prove challenging as patients often undergo invasive skin biopsies and are evaluated by various specialists, most frequently by dermatologists as well as neurologists and pain medicine physicians [9]. The "ice pack sign" is pathognomonic for diagnosis, as the pruritus is alleviated when an ice pack is placed with a subsequent return of symptoms when it is removed [8,9]. Electrodiagnostic studies (EDX) have been rarely used in the diagnostic evaluation of BRP, however, they may reveal electromyographic changes suggestive of a cervical radiculopathy [12][13][14].…”

“…While some patients may not have cutaneous abnormalities, others may experience skin excoriations or lichenification caused by the scratching [ 1 , 3 , 8 ]. Women are affected in 70% of cases, primarily in the 5th and 6th decade [ 4 , 9 ]. The frequency of BRP in the general population is unknown and considered very rare.…”

“…In 1983 Heyl described cervical vertebral osteoarthritis in patients with BRP, suggesting the association between BRP and cervical nerve compression due to cervical spine lesions [ 11 ]. BRP most commonly involves C5 and C6 radiculopathy and is bilateral in 75% of cases [ 4 , 7 , 9 ].…”

Brachioradial pruritus in a patient with metastatic breast cancer to her cervical spine

“…2 Classically, patients report improvement of the pruritus with application of ice packs and return of symptoms after removal. 3 The pathogenesis of BRP is unknown, although the condition has been linked to cervical spinal disease and ultraviolet (UV) radiation.…”