A Case of Herpes Zoster-Related Atypical Cervical Radiculopathy

J Korean Assoc EMG Electrodiagn Med 2008;10(1):72-76.
Published online June 1, 2008.

Abstract

Herpes zoster, resulting from reactivation of the dormant zoster virus in the dorsal root ganglion, occasionallycauses the peripheral motor weakness. The mechanism of herpes zoster-related radiculopathy isnot clear yet. The herpes zoster-related radiculopathy could be diagnosed by the appearance of the motorweakness or radicular pain at the same dermatomal distrubution of vesicular eruptions. But, segmentalzoster paresis always does not coincide with the location of the cutaneous eruptions, electrodiagnosticstudy could be helpful to diagnose atypical heres zoster-related radiculopathies. We report clinical symptoms,signs and electrodiagnostic findings of such atypical radiculopathy related to varicella zoster viralinfection, including separation of affected muscles and skin segments.

Key Words: Herpes zoster, Radiculopathy, Motor weakness