Cervical dystonia mimicking dropped-head syndrome after radiotherapy for laryngeal carcinoma

Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 2003 Dec;106(1):41-3. doi: 10.1016/s0303-8467(03)00044-1.

Abstract

We report a case of cervical dystonia mimicking dropped-head syndrome (DHS) in a 57-year-old man treated for laryngeal carcinoma by radiotherapy (74.4 Gy) 3 months before. Cervical computerized tomographic scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) did not find any muscle fat changes but found a high-intensity signal on T2 weighted images in the cervical spinal cord. Clinical and electromyographic findings were consistent with cervical dystonia. A trapezius biopsy was normal. Spontaneous remission of the dystonia was observed for 1 month whereas the laryngeal carcinoma progressed. The link between cervical dystonia and radiotherapy might be acute radiation-induced damage to the cervical spinal cord.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / radiotherapy*
  • Electromyography / radiation effects
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Laryngeal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Laryngeal Neoplasms / radiotherapy*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neck Muscles / innervation
  • Neurologic Examination / radiation effects
  • Radiation Injuries / diagnosis
  • Radiation Injuries / etiology*
  • Remission, Spontaneous
  • Spinal Cord / radiation effects*
  • Torticollis / diagnosis
  • Torticollis / etiology*