Phrenic paresis and respiratory insufficiency associated with cervical spondylotic myelopathy.
Cervical spondylotic myelopathy is a common disease caused by chronic segmental compression of the spinal cord. Despite the fact that the columns of the nuclei of the phrenic nerve are located between the 3rd and 5th cervical nerve segments, phrenic nerve paresis is not usually clinically significant. We present one case of cervical spondylotic myelopathy with bilateral phrenic paresis in whom magnetic resonance imaging and surgical findings confirmed intrinsic cord disease as being the cause of this syndrome. This case report suggests that one pathophysiology of clinical phrenic nerve paresis may be segmental damage to the anterior horns caused by cervical spondylosis.
Fregni
F
F
Neurology Division, Hospital das Clínicas, São Paulo University, São Paulo, Brazil. ffregni@bidmc.harvard.edu
Conceição Souza
G E
GE
Taricco
M A
MA
Mutarelli
E G
EG
D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010291:Paresis / Q000209:etiology*; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D010791:Phrenic Nerve / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology*; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013128:Spinal Osteophytosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery