[Neurogenic muscle hypertrophy: imaging features in three cases and review of the literature].
OBJECTIVE
To review the literature on well-documented cases of neurogenic muscle hypertrophy in order to define significant features of this disease.


METHODS
The PUBMED and SCIENCE DIRECT web-sites were used to conduct an inventory of all reported cases of this disease. We entered the key-words "hypertrophy", "muscle" and "neurogenic", and found 48 articles, describing 129 cases. Our criteria of inclusion included hypertrophy of one or several muscles of a lower limb, previous realization of at least one imaging study (CT or MRI) and electromyography of lower limbs; criterion of exclusion was hypertrophy related to hereditary or acquired polyneuropathies. Twenty-five cases were retained for investigation along with 3 recent cases observed in our department.


RESULTS
Results show that neurogenic muscle hypertrophy is usually presents with painful enlargement of a calf in a male, aged 32 to 60 years, with previous history of low back pain and sciatica, 68% of the time due to disk herniation or lumbar stenosis. Other clinical findings may include radiation therapy or trauma.


CONCLUSIONS
The symptoms of neurogenic muscle hypertrophy may lead to MRI examination before electromyography. This disease should be included in the differential diagnosis.
Zabel
J P
JP
Service d'Imagerie Guilloz, Hôpital Central, CHU Nancy, 54035 Nancy Cedex.
Peutot
A
A
Chapuis
D
D
Batch
T
T
Lecocq
J
J
Blum
A
A
D000328:Adult; D003161:Compartment Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy; D007866:Leg; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged