Thoracic flexion provokes circumferential dysesthesia: A symptom of thoracic cord lesions in MS. (June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Reder, Anthony T
• Is Part Of: Multiple sclerosis. Volume 27:Number 7(2021)
• Page Start: 1008
• Page End: 1013
• Publication Date: 2021-06
• Subjects: Hug -- Lhermitte -- multiple sclerosis -- thoracic -- spinal cord; Central nervous system -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Myelin sheath -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Inflammation -- Periodicals; Multiple sclerosis -- Periodicals; Central Nervous System Diseases -- Periodicals; Demyelinating Diseases -- Periodicals; Inflammation -- Periodicals; Multiple Sclerosis -- Periodicals; Système nerveux central -- Maladies -- Périodiques; Gaine de myéline -- Maladies -- Périodiques; Inflammation (Pathologie) -- Périodiques; Sclérose en plaques -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 616.834005
• DOI: 10.1177/1352458520932476
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1352-4585

Abstract

Thoracic flexion, a rapid forward flexion at the waist, can elicit a circumferential electrical sensation in some patients with multiple sclerosis. The clinical and radiographic features of this phenomenon are described here. This symptom is typically a sensory band around the T6-T7 dermatomes and is usually associated with recent thoracic cord lesions. It is clinically independent of cervical pathology and Lhermitte's sign. Similar to the vertical radiation of symptoms upon neck flexion due to cervical cord lesions, this sign may help localize MS plaques to the thoracic cord, even when thoracic MRI is negative.