Subacute combined degeneration (SCD) of the spinal cord, which is a result of vitamin B12 deficiency, may cause irreversible neurological deficits. The lesion in the spinal cord is typically localized to the posterior and lateral columns, as the name implies. In this paper, we report on two patients with SCD, whose lesions involved the bilateral anterior column as well as the posterior and lateral columns. This report illustrates the importance of awareness of clinical and radiologic variable characteristics of SCD.

Peripheral neuropathy and pain are common adverse effects of chemotherapy, which incidence are rising significantly commensurate with extension of survival period in cancer patients. Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy is caused by most commonly used chemotherapeutic agents including platinum compounds, taxenes, proteasome inhibitors, thalidomide, and vinca alkaloids. Management of neuropathy and pain caused by chemotherapy is still challenging due to there is no proven therapies and preventive methods. The pain and its impact are becoming a main deterioration factor in quality of life and economic burden in our society. We review the mechanism, clinical characteristics, updated evidence of possible management of neuropathy and pain caused by traditional chemotherapeutic agents for contributing to the application of clinicians in their actual medical environment.

Parry-Romberg syndrome is a rare acquired disease of unknown etiology that is classically characterized by progressive atrophy of the skin, subcutaneous tissues, and underlying bone structures. Eyelid myokymia is a disorder of involuntary, fine, continuous, undulating muscle fiber contractions, which is seen as a rippling of the overlying periorbital area. We report a patient with Parry-Romberg syndrome presenting eyelid myokymia.

Bell's palsy is one of the most common outpatient problems in neurologic clinics. The diagnosis of Bell's palsy is typically made through clinical evaluation. Characteristic findings include the acute onset of unilateral lower motor neuron facial paralysis, reaching its peak within 72 hours. However, there are numerous diagnostic pitfalls related to the differential diagnosis, including neoplasms, autoimmune disorders, trauma, and infections. For an accurate diagnosis, recognizing the anatomical background and identifying atypical clinical features of Bell's palsy is crucial. Oral steroids are considered the optimal treatment, and antiviral agents may play a beneficial role. Even without treatment, the prognosis for Bell's palsy is generally favorable, but long-standing sequelae are also possible and should be considered for functional, aesthetic, and psychological aspects.

No abstract available.
Ageusia* ; Humans ; Myasthenia Gravis* ; Thymoma

Background: and Purpose We performed a population-based study to determine the prevalence and incidence of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) in South Korea using data from the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) database. Methods: Data recorded in the HIRA database between January 2016 and December 2020 were analyzed. The inclusion criteria in this study for patients with CIDP were a diagnostic code of G61.8 in the seventh and eighth revision of the Korean Standard Classification of Disease and a >3-month history of oral immunosuppressant use. The age-adjusted incidence rate and prevalence of CIDP in South Korea were also analyzed. Results: CIDP was newly diagnosed in 953 patients during the study period. The mean age at diagnosis was 58.36 years, and the male-to-female ratio was 1.74. The age-adjusted incidence rates were 0.22, 0.21, 0.23, 0.30, and 0.25 per 100,000 person-years in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020, respectively. The age-adjusted prevalence was estimated at 1.16 per 100,000 persons in 2020. Age and the Elixhauser Comorbidity Index were associated with the in-hospital mortality of patients with CIDP. Infection and cardiovascular disease (CVD) were also significantly associated with the in-hospital mortality of those patients. Acute-onset CIDP was initially diagnosed in an estimated 101 out of 953 patients with CIDP. Conclusions The prevalence and incidence rates of CIDP in South Korea were comparable between this nationwide cohort study and previous studies. Common comorbidities such as CVD and diabetes should be appropriately monitored in patients with CIDP to prevent a poor prognosis and socioeconomic burden.

Background: A culturally validated Korean version of the PainDETECT Questionnaire (PD-Q) was used to identify neuropathic pain components (NeP) in patients suffering from chronic pain. The purpose of this study was to determine if the Korean PD-Q can be used to subgroup patients with peripheral NeP according to sensory symptom profiles. Methods: This study included 400 Korean patients with peripheral neuropathic pain diagnosed as probable or definite NeP. The total scores and subscores for each item in PD-Q were transformed into a Z-score for standardization. Hierarchical cluster analysis was performed to identify clusters of subjects by PD-Q scores. Results: The mean total PD-Q score of the study participants was 14.57 ± 6.46. A hierarchical cluster analysis identified 5 clusters with distinct pain characteristic profiles. Cluster 1 had relatively severe burning and tingling sensations. The mean total PD-Q score for cluster 2 was the lowest of the 5 clusters. Cluster 3 tended to be vulnerable to pain in response to cold/heat stimulation. Cluster 4 showed relatively severe pain induced by physical stimuli, such as light touch or slight pressure. Cluster 5 had high scores for all NeP symptoms. Conclusion This study demonstrates the ability of patients to cluster by symptoms using the Korean PD-Q. Subgrouping of peripheral neuropathic pain by sensory symptom profile may be useful in making effective drug treatment decisions.