Difficult Diagnosis of an Atypical Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Case with Foot-drop

KARAKAŞLI A., KALEMCİ O., YILMAZ M., Yucesoy K.

JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGICAL SCIENCES-TURKISH, cilt.30, sa.2, ss.401-405, 2013 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 30 Sayı: 2
  • Basım Tarihi: 2013
  • Dergi Adı: JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGICAL SCIENCES-TURKISH
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.401-405
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Atypical, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, EMG, discectomy, Foot-drop
  • Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) with atypical symptoms poses a diagnostic challenge to clinicians, frequently resulting in delayed diagnosis. The patient reported here presented with unexplained lower extremity pain and weakness and he was investigated for 8 months, with an extensive work-up, including several EMG studies, especially to rule out canal stenosis processes, before a diagnosis of ALS could be made, largely on the basis of upper and lower motor neurons. Differential diagnosis with motor axonal neuropathies may be particularly difficult. EMG is an essential tool for the early diagnosis of ALS, which increases potential benefit s of therapeutic interventions. In motor neuron diseases/amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), electrodiagnostic techniques are essential in supporting the diagnosis and excluding other conditions that clinically resemble ALS. In case of clinical suspicion in patients with recurrent EMG thinning should be done to reach the definite diagnosis.