Missed diagnosis of vitamin B12 deficiency presenting with paraesthetic symptoms.

Paraesthesia is a common presenting complaint in vitamin B12 deficiency. Since this condition is partially reversible with repletion, this is a diagnosis not to be missed. Two cases in which the diagnosis was initially overlooked are presented, emphasising that the paraesthesia associated with vitamin B12 deficiency may be central (myelopathic) or peripheral (neuropathic) in origin.