Neuromyotonia: an unusual presentation of intrathoracic malignancy.
A 48 year old woman is described who presented with increasing muscular rigidity and who was found to have a mediastinal tumour. Electrophysiological studies revealed that the muscular stiffness resulted from very high frequency motor unit activity which outlasted voluntary effort, and which was abolished by nerve block. The abnormal activity may have arisen at the anterior horn cell level. Marked improvement followed the administration of diphenylhydantoin.
D000870:Anterior Horn Cells / Q000502:physiology; D004576:Electromyography; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005260:Female; D006003:Glycogen / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009127:Muscle Rigidity; D009132:Muscles / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009431:Neural Conduction; D009468:Neuromuscular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010672:Phenytoin / Q000627:therapeutic use
D010672:Phenytoin; D006003:Glycogen