[A case of cervical spondylotic amyotrophy resembling post-polio syndrome]

We reported a 62-year-old man with cervical spondylotic amyotrophy, in whom differentiation from post-polio syndrome was required. At the age of 3, the patient developed acute anterior poliomyelitis that caused muscular atrophy and muscle weakness in the left arm and bilateral lower limbs. At the age of 61, after approximately 58 years of symptomatic stabilization, the patient newly developed muscular atrophy and muscle weakness localized in the triceps muscle of the left arm. Since no sensory disturbance was noted, post-polio syndrome was initially suspected. However, MRI and myelo-CT demonstrated left side compression of the spinal cord at the level of the 6th cervical spine. Therefore, the patient was diagnosed as having cervical spondylotic amyotrophy, and the progression of the disease was prevented by having the patient rest. Since this patient had a history of acute anterior poliomyelitis, the number of anterior horn cells might have been decreased before he developed cervical spondylosis. Therefore, the patient might have shown clinical symptoms of cervical spondylotic amyotrophy mainly consisting of anterior horn disturbance and scarce sensory disturbance.