Cervical root sonography to differentiate multifocal motor neuropathy from ALS

J Med Invest. 2016;63(1-2):104-7. doi: 10.2152/jmi.63.104.

Abstract

To explore suggestive evidence of focal proximal demyelination in multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) without overt evidence of conduction block, we conducted sonographical assessment of cervical nerve roots in 9 MMN patients, 22 ALS patients, and 17 control subjects. The mean diameters of the C5 and C6 roots in MMN patients were significantly larger than those in ALS and controls, especially on the clinically dominant side. Although non-specific, sonography can be a potentially useful diagnostic procedure to support the diagnosis of MMN, even when overt conduction block is lacking.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / pathology
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cervical Vertebrae / innervation
  • Demyelinating Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Demyelinating Diseases / pathology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Motor Neuron Disease / diagnostic imaging*
  • Motor Neuron Disease / pathology
  • Spinal Nerve Roots / diagnostic imaging*
  • Spinal Nerve Roots / pathology
  • Ultrasonography
  • Young Adult