Nerve root hypertrophy as the cause of lumbar stenosis in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy.

Two patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) developed signs of lumbar stenosis. Radiologic, intraoperative, and pathologic findings demonstrated lumbar stenosis secondary to nerve root hypertrophy. This syndrome has been demonstrated in hereditary but not acquired demyelinating neuropathies. CIDP should be considered in the differential diagnosis of sciatica and nerve root hypertrophy.