title: [Dropped head syndrome in motor neuron disease].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Neurologia e Doenças Neuromusculares, Hospital de Clínicas, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo José
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Lorenzoni
authors.forename: Marcos Christiano
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lange
authors.forename: Cláudia S K
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Kay
authors.forename: Luiz G M P de
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.forename: Hélio A G
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Teive
authors.forename: Rosana H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Scola
authors.forename: Lineu C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Werneck
mesh_terms: 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