Parsonage-Turner Syndrome With an Uncommon Trigger: A Case Study and Literature Review

Patients with Parsonage-Turner syndrome (PTS) are often misdiagnosed due to overlapping symptoms with other conditions and coinciding procedures. Because it is most commonly seen following viral infection, it is often not considered in other cases. We present a rare case in which a 79-year-old female, with no significant past medical history, was diagnosed with PTS two months after a biopsy of the right levator scapulae muscle. Forty-eight hours after the procedure, she developed sudden-onset pain and weakness in the right scapulae and neck, followed by worsened weakness. This case report highlights the importance of considering PTS before proceeding with treatment. Patients with suspected PTS should undergo electromyography (EMG) to confirm diagnosis and monitor disease progression and resolution.