title: Muscle hypertrophy of the lower leg caused by L5 radiculopathy.
abstract: We report on a case with hypertrophy of the tibial muscles and to a lesser extent of the calf muscles preceded by a lumbar syndrome and sciatica. Lumbar myelography disclosed a discogenic compression of the L5 nerve root. Muscle biopsy of the peroneal muscles showed a marked type I fibre predominance and hypertrophy but no inflammatory infiltration. We consider the possibility that radiculopathy not only of the S1 nerve root but also of the L5 root can trigger hypertrophy of the musculature and must be taken into account of the differential diagnosis of unilateral focal hypertrophy of the lower leg.
authors.affiliation: Seidel-Klinik, Clinic for Rheumatology, Spinal Disorders and Neuromuscular Diseases, Bad Bellingen, Germany. kottlors@badbellingen.mediclin.de
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kottlors
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.forename: Janbernd
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kirschner
authors.forename: Franz Xaver
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: Glocker
mesh_terms: D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D007866:Leg / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D011843:Radiculopathy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed