Differential diagnosis of motor neuron disease

Abstract

Motor neuron disease (MND) is a type of chronic progressive neurodegenerative disease involving upper and/or lower motor neurons, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, progressive bulbar palsy, primary lateral sclerosis, progressive muscular atrophy, and spinal muscular atrophy. Different types of motor neuron diseases have distinct characteristics. Therefore, the diagnosis mainly depends on clinical manifestations, physical examination and electrophysiological examination, and is made by exclusion of other diseases. Atypical cases are sometimes difficult for clinical physicians to distinguish from other diseases involving upper and/or lower motor neurons. This article is going to introduce various types of MND and their differential diagnosis according to site of lesion of motor neuron disease. Key words: Motor neuron disease; Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; Upper motor neuron; Lower motor neuron; Differential diagnosis