Needle electromyography of the frontalis muscle in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Issue 6 (26th September 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pan, Hua; Jian, Fan; Lin, Jinxi; Chen, Na; Zhang, Zaiqiang; Wang, Yongjun; Cui, Liying; Kimura, Jun
• Is Part Of: Muscle & nerve. Volume 54:Issue 6(2016)
• Page Start: 1093
• Page End: 1096
• Publication Date: 2016-09-26
• Subjects: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis -- craniobulbar region -- electromyography -- frontalis muscle -- spontaneous activity -- tongue; Neuromuscular diseases -- Periodicals; Muscles -- Periodicals; Nerves -- Periodicals; 616.74
• DOI: 10.1002/mus.25236
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0148-639X

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Introduction: We sought to determine which muscles to choose for better assessment of the craniobulbar region in establishing the diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Methods: We studied the frontalis muscle in 83 controls and compared it with the tongue, sternocleidomastoid (SCM), and trapezius muscles in 105 definite or probable ALS patients (54 bulbar, 51 nonbulbar). Results: More patients achieved complete relaxation of the frontalis muscle than the tongue or SCM. Motor unit potentials were of longer duration and higher amplitude in ALS patients than in controls ( P < 0.05). The frontalis had the same frequency of spontaneous potentials as the tongue, SCM, and trapezius muscles in bulbar ALS patients, but fewer than in the trapezius in nonbulbar patients. Conclusions: Examining the frontalis provides useful information in establishing the diagnosis of ALS by identifying clinically evident or subclinical abnormalities in the craniobulbar region. Muscle Nerve 54 : 1093–1096, 2016