Clinical and electromyographic observations on the diagnosis of motor neuron diseases (MND)

A survey was made of 161 patients with a diagnosis of MND during the years 1965-1979 at the Neurological Clinic of Padova University. The results of a clinical and electromyographical reassessment is reported in 8 cases, selected out of the 24 surviving patients. Among this group, 3 patients had a moto-neuron disease, characterized by an exceptionally benign course, while in the remaining 5 the previous diagnosis was found to be inaccurate. The misleading clinical and EMG findings (at times encountered in the differential diagnosis of MND) are discussed: among them are previous illnesses such as poliomyelitis or radiculitis, inadequacy of both EMG techniques and the evaluation of fasciculations.