A progressive bradykinesia with dysphagia patient diagnosed as primary lateral sclerosis

Abstract

Background: Primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) is a rare upper motor neuron variant of motor neuron disease. The disease is gradually progressive with prominent spinal or bulbar spasticity and, often for a long duration, only minimal motor weakness. Rarely, the combination of pyramidal and extrapyramidal-like signs with minimal motor weakness can occasionally result in the misdiagnosis of PLS as one of the typical parkinsonism syndromes. We describe a case of PLS initially presenting with prominent slowness of movement leading to motor neuron disease.