title: [Two boys with non-progressive unilateral atrophy of the calf muscles].
abstract: We report here two boys who presented with atrophy of the right calf muscle. The onset was insidious and the symptom was found in infancy in case 2. They were followed for more than 5 years and no progression was seen. No sensory disturbances or autonomic nervous system symptoms were observed. Although needle electric myograph and muscle biopsy findings showed a neurogenic pattern, no cause was confirmed. Recently, a new disease concept of "benign monomelic amyotrophy of lower limb" was established and this could be applied to these patients. This disorder is rare and it is seen in young adults. It is characterized by non-progressive unilateral calf muscle atrophy. There is almost no possibility that this disorder is a variant of spinal muscular atrophy. When a patient presents with unilateral calf muscle atrophy, the treatable causes of the atrophy, including spinal cord disorders or peripheral nerve disorders, should be excluded first. If a confirmed cause cannot be found, then there should be a careful follow-up of the patient, even if the symptoms are stable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Neurology, National Center Hospital for Mental, Nervous and Muscular Disorders, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo. masasaki@ncnp.go.jp
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oomi
authors.forename: Masami
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Segawa
authors.forename: Hirofumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Komaki
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sugai
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D004576:Electromyography; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008297:Male; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology; D009133:Muscular Atrophy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D011859:Radiography