Late onset hirayama disease: Characteristic magnetic resonance imaging features hirayana disease

Abstract

Hirayama Disease is a rare benign lower motor neuron disorder which is primarily affecting young males. It is characterized by the progressive weakness of the distal upper extremities followed by spontaneous stabilization of the symptoms. In this paper, we describe a 58 year- old female patient with a complaint of weakness in the right hand and forearm. Magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical spine established the final diagnosis of Hirayama disease. Hirayama disease when detected and intervened at an early stage of the disease process, can have a good prognosis. Clinicians and radiologists should be aware of the clinical features, as well as suspicious findings on neutral-position MR imaging and an additional neck-flexion MR imaging study should be arranged to confirm the diagnosis.