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Neurology (Expert Forum)
Myasthenia Gravis or Thylmus
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Myasthenia Gravis or Thylmus
by Goho, Nov 19, 2005 12:00AM
I am a 50 year old male. Four years ago I developed double-vision, a variety of neurological oddities (twitching and tingling) and generalized weakness, most markedly with my neck muscles. I have seen several specialists, eventually ending up at a university medical center neurology clinic. I have had two EMGs (both very normal), two MG blood tests (can’t remember their names, one was a $900 test). I have not had a Tensilon test. I did have a Cogan’s lid twitch. They wanted to do a muscle biopsy (looking for ragged red fibers), but I declined. I have had a cranial MRI, CAT scan (eye orbits only), but no images of my neck, spine or brain stem. I have been better for the last 2 years, but I still see double and have some muscle weakness. I take no medications, and have no other health issues.
My question is could these symptoms (with negative MG test results) be caused by a thymus problem (tumor)?
Thank you!
My question is could these symptoms (with negative MG test results) be caused by a thymus problem (tumor)?
Thank you!
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-PW, Nov 25, 2005 12:00AM
Your symptoms could be consistent with MG, although other muscle problems can cause neck weakness and eye muscle weakness such as mitochondrial myopathy, and certain congenital myopathies. Regular EMGs are commonly normal in
MG even if repetitive nerve stimulation is done - a more sensitive EMG for MG is a single fiber EMG, and this may be useful in determining a diagnosis. Blood test can be useful if postivive but if negative do not mean that MG is not there, a new antibody test (anti-MUSK) is available if regular MG antibodies are negative. Tensilon test can be useful if done by an experienced clinician if positive, again if negtive does not exclude a diagnosis of MG.
Thymus problems such as an overabundance of thymus tissue (thymic hyperplasia) or less commonly Thymus tumor can be associated with MG in a prooprtion of cases, although we are not sure why, and more so in younger patients. Therefore if a diagnosis is made of MG (even a test negtive but clinical diagnosis positive) then a CT scan of the neck should be done.
MG even if repetitive nerve stimulation is done - a more sensitive EMG for MG is a single fiber EMG, and this may be useful in determining a diagnosis. Blood test can be useful if postivive but if negative do not mean that MG is not there, a new antibody test (anti-MUSK) is available if regular MG antibodies are negative. Tensilon test can be useful if done by an experienced clinician if positive, again if negtive does not exclude a diagnosis of MG.
Thymus problems such as an overabundance of thymus tissue (thymic hyperplasia) or less commonly Thymus tumor can be associated with MG in a prooprtion of cases, although we are not sure why, and more so in younger patients. Therefore if a diagnosis is made of MG (even a test negtive but clinical diagnosis positive) then a CT scan of the neck should be done.
