title: Single-fiber electromyography in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and cervical spondylosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cervical spondylosis (CS) is a common disease in adults and may coexist with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). It is important to detect ALS coexisting with CS (ALS-cs) at an early stage, especially when surgical treatment of CS is planned.
  
  
  METHODS
  Single-fiber electromyography was performed in 26 patients with ALS, 19 with ALS-cs, and 22 with CS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean jitter, percentage of jitter >55 μs, and percentage of impulse blocking were not statistically different between ALS and ALS-cs cases, but they were significantly lower in CS. Mean fiber density was not statistically different among the 3 groups. The percentage of pairs with jitter >55 μs exceeding 40% and mean jitter exceeding 55 μs had high sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of ALS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Single-fiber electromyography can supply valuable information in helping to differentiate ALS from CS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100730, China.
authors.forename: Mingsheng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Liying
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Yuzhou
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: Benhong
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Du
mesh_terms: D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D055009:Spondylosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*