Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

The etiology of notalgia paresthetica: a descriptive study of 117 patients

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Irish Journal of Medical Science (1971 -) Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Notalgia paresthetica (NP) is a neuropathic itching condition unilaterally localized in the midscapular area. It is a common but an underdiagnosed disease, and only a few studies investigating NP etiology with a limited number of patients have been reported in the literature.

Objective

We aimed to evaluate the demographic, clinical, histopathological, neurological, and radiological findings of NP patients and investigate correlations between them and symptoms of NP to elucidate the etiology of NP.

Methods

One hundred and seventeen consecutive patients diagnosed with NP were included and assessed in a multidisciplinary and prospective manner. We recorded demographic and clinical data and obtained a skin biopsy from the pruritic or hyperpigmented region. Pruritus severity was assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS). All patients were evaluated neurologically with magnetic resonance imaging.

Results

The mean age of the patients was 47.08 ± 12.28 years. The disease was more common in females (87.2%). Statistical analysis revealed that VAS scores were independent of the age, gender, and skin type of the patient. We found no significant difference in VAS scores between NP patients with or without comorbidities. Vertebral pathologies detected by MRI and amyloid deposition revealed in histopathology were not among the main factors affecting VAS scores.

Study Limitation

Since consecutive patients enrolled into the study, we could not include equal number of male and female patients.

Conclusion

We found no correlation between symptom severity and findings from neurological and histopathological evaluations. Further microneurological studies should be carried out to elucidate the etiology of NP.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Chiriac A, Podoleanu C, Moldovan C, Stolnicu S (2016) Notalgia paresthetica, a clinical series and review. Pain Pract 16:E90–E91

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Terzi R, Sirinocak PB (2016) A rare cause of neuropathic pain in the back: notalgia paresthetica. Noro Psikiyatr Ars 53:89–90

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Reich A, Heisig M, Phan NQ et al (2012) Visual analogue scale: evaluation of the instrument for the assessment of pruritus. Acta Derm Venereol 92:497–501

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Lo Schiavo A, Peccerillo F, Mascolo M, la Montagna M, Caccavale T, Gambardella A, Caccavale S (2015) Inverse notalgia paresthetica: a strange case of professional disease. Int J Dermatol 54:e49–e51

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Huesmann T, Cunha PR, Osada N et al (2012) Notalgia paraesthetica: a descriptive two-cohort study of 65 patients from Brazil and Germany. Acta Derm Venereol 92:535–540

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Elmas ÖF, Kızılyel O, Metin MS et al (2015) An overlooked clinical entity: notalgia paresthetica. Agriculture 27:224–225

    Google Scholar 

  7. Alcántara F, Feito M, Albizuri F et al (2016) Notalgia paresthetica and multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome 2A: a case report. Pediatr Dermatol 33:e303–e305

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Shumway NK, Cole E, Fernandez KH (2016) Neurocutaneous disease. J Am Acad Dermatol 74:215–228

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Andersen HH, Sand C, Elberling J (2016) Considerable variability in the efficacy of 8% capsaicin topical patches in the treatment of chronic pruritus in 3 patients with notalgia paresthetica. Ann Dermatol 28:86–89

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Misery L, Brenaut E, Le Garrec R et al (2014) Neuropathic pruritus. Nat Rev Neurol 10:408–416

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Raison-Peyron N, Meunier L, Acevedo M, Meynadier J (1999) Notalgia paresthetica: clinical, physiopathological and therapeutic aspects. A study of 12 cases. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 12:215–221

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Şavk E, Şavk ŞÖ (2004) On brachioradial pruritus and notalgia paresthetica [4]. J. Am. Acad. Dermatol. 50:800–801

    Google Scholar 

  13. Alai NN, Skinner HB, Nabili ST et al (2010) Notalgia paresthetica associated with cervical spinal stenosis and cervicothoracic disk disease at C4 through C7. Cutis 85:77–81

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Tchanque-Fossuo CN, Isseroff RR, Silverstein MA (2016) Fluoroscopy induced chronic radiation dermatitis should be included in the differential diagnosis of notalgia paresthetica. Dermatol Online J 22(11):13030/qt0kh726m9

  15. Ellis C (2013) Notalgia paresthetica: the unreachable itch. Dermatol Pract Concept 3:3–6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Davidson S, Zhang X, Yoon CH et al (2007) The itch-producing agents histamine and cowhage activate separate populations of primate spinothalamic tract neurons. J Neurosci 27:10007–10014

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Faculty of Medicine, Hitit University, Çorum, Turkey

    Engin Şenel & Emine Sabancılar

  2. School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand

    Shaun Holt

  3. Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, Hitit University, Çorum, Turkey

    Zafer Sabancılar

  4. Department of Public Administration, Faculty of Economics, Anadolu University, Eskişehir, Turkey

    Seher Doğruer Şenel

Authors
  1. Engin Şenel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Shaun Holt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Emine Sabancılar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Zafer Sabancılar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Seher Doğruer Şenel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Engin Şenel.

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Şenel, E., Holt, S., Sabancılar, E. et al. The etiology of notalgia paresthetica: a descriptive study of 117 patients. Ir J Med Sci 189, 1311–1316 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-019-02133-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-019-02133-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation