In general, Numbness of part of one limb: Peripheral nervous system lesion Unilateral numbness of both limbs (with or without the trunk): Brain lesion Bilateral numbness below a specific dermatomal level: Transverse myelopathy (a spinal cord lesion) Bilateral numbness not corresponding to a specific dermatomal level: Polyneuropathy, multiple mononeuropathy, or a patchy spinal cord or brain disorder More specific localizing patterns include the following: Stocking-glove distribution: When motor signs are minimal or absent, usually an axonal polyneuropathy; when accompanied by weakness and spasticity (eg, hyperreflexia, increased tone, extensor plantar response), sometimes cervical spondylosis or a demyelinating polyneuropathy or demyelinating lesion of the spinal cord Single dermatomal distribution: Nerve root lesion (radiculopathy) Single extremity with more than one nerve or nerve root affected: Plexus lesion (plexopathy) Multiple related or unrelated peripheral nerves: Multiple mononeuropathy Loss of sensation affecting position and vibration disproportionately: Dysfunction of the dorsal columns or a demyelinating peripheral neuropathy Saddle area distribution: Conus medullaris syndrome or compression of the cauda equina (cauda equina syndrome) Crossed face-body distribution (ie, face and body affected on different sides): Lower brain stem lesion Ipsilateral face and body distribution: Upper brain stem, thalamic, or cortical lesion Bilateral numbness in a cape-like distribution over the neck and shoulders: Central cervical spinal cord abnormality, typically a syrinx Findings that indicate involvement of multiple anatomic areas (eg, both brain and spinal cord lesions) suggest more than one lesion (eg, multiple sclerosis, metastatic tumors, multifocal degenerative brain or spinal cord disorders) or more than one causative disorder.