[Dropped head syndrome in motor neuron disease].
Dropped head is a syndrome caused by weakness of the neck extensor muscles found in different kinds of neuromuscular disorders and also in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. This is a cases report of three women with motor neuron disease with beginning of dysphagia and cervical weakness that it evolved with dropped head. The investigation showed normal magnetic resonance imaging of brain and cervical column. Needle electromyography showed active and chronic denervation in bulbar muscles and cervical, thoracic and lumbosacral segments. We discuss the characteristic of disease, specially the clinical manifestations and electromyography features, with emphasis at the clinical evaluation of dropped head in the suspicion of motor neuron disease.
Lorenzoni
Paulo José
PJ
Serviço de Neurologia e Doenças Neuromusculares, Hospital de Clínicas, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
Lange
Marcos Christiano
MC
Kay
Cláudia S K
CS
Almeida
Luiz G M P de
LG
Teive
Hélio A G
HA
Scola
Rosana H
RH
Werneck
Lineu C
LC
D000368:Aged; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology; D011187:Posture; D013577:Syndrome