title: Diaphragmatic paralysis following cervical herpes zoster.
abstract: A 74-year-old man was found to have a paralysed left hemidiaphragm within four months of the appearance of a typical herpes zoster rash involving his left shoulder and neck. Investigations, including bronchoscopy and computed tomography of the chest, failed to detect a cause for the diaphragmatic paralysis. We believe that the cervical zoster and diaphragmatic paralysis were causally related, a rare but recognised association.
authors.affiliation: Prince Charles Hospital, Chermside, Qld.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stowasser
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cameron
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Oliver
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004594:Electrophysiology; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009333:Neck; D010791:Phrenic Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D012133:Respiratory Paralysis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology