Lower motor neuron disease in a patient with Hodgkin's disease treated with radiotherapy

A case of lower motor neuron disease after extended field irradiation for cervical stage IA nodular sclerosing Hodgkin's disease is reported. Recurrence of Hodgkin's disease is excluded and other diagnostic possibilities are discussed. We compared this case with twenty-four similar cases reported in the literature after irradiation of the spinal cord for Hodgkin's disease or other neoplasms. Special features included the relatively advanced age of the patient, the long latency period, a premonitory CK-rise and reversibility. The entity is considered to be a very rare and relatively benign complication of spinal cord irradiation important to recognize as an entity in order to avoid extensive reevaluation.