title: [A patient with sarcoidosis needed differential diagnosis from motor neuron disease].
abstract: A 50-year-old woman lost about 10 kg of body weight within two months. Thereafter, she developed dysphagia and dysphonia. She visited our hospital and presented with a weak elevation of the soft palate, fasciculation of the tongue, hoarseness of voice, muscle weakness of the neck and extremities, and a decrement in vital capacity. She was admitted with a provisional diagnosis of motor neuron disease. The results of laboratory examinations showed an elevation in serum lysozyme and liquor protein levels, and pleocytosis in the liquor. Needle electromyography showed neurogenic changes, and bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy was revealed by computerized tomography. A biopsy specimen was excised from lymph nodes near the right anterior scalene muscle, which showed noncaseating granulomas consistent with sarcoidosis. All her symptoms improved after steroid administration. Such patients can be treatable with steroids. Moreover, the differential diagnosis from motor neuron disease is important.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Akita Red Cross Hospital.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Koide
authors.forename: Masato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kanazawa
authors.forename: Junsuke
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shinbo
authors.forename: Katsuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Urayama
authors.forename: Nobuo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yagi
authors.forename: Shoichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tsuchida
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ishiguro
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016472:Motor Neuron Disease / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000175:diagnosis*