[Neurogenic muscle hypertrophy: imaging features in three cases and review of the literature]

Abstract

Objective: To review the literature on well-documented cases of neurogenic muscle hypertrophy in order to define significant features of this disease.

Patients and methods: The PUBMED and SCIENCE DIRECT web-sites were used to conduct an inventory of all reported cases of this disease. We entered the key-words "hypertrophy", "muscle" and "neurogenic", and found 48 articles, describing 129 cases. Our criteria of inclusion included hypertrophy of one or several muscles of a lower limb, previous realization of at least one imaging study (CT or MRI) and electromyography of lower limbs; criterion of exclusion was hypertrophy related to hereditary or acquired polyneuropathies. Twenty-five cases were retained for investigation along with 3 recent cases observed in our department.

Results: Results show that neurogenic muscle hypertrophy is usually presents with painful enlargement of a calf in a male, aged 32 to 60 years, with previous history of low back pain and sciatica, 68% of the time due to disk herniation or lumbar stenosis. Other clinical findings may include radiation therapy or trauma.

Conclusion: The symptoms of neurogenic muscle hypertrophy may lead to MRI examination before electromyography. This disease should be included in the differential diagnosis.