A Case of Isolated Neck Extensor Myopathy Responding Favorably to Immunotherapy

Abstract

We report on a case of a 79-year-old man with dropped head syndrome, where diagnostic tests, ruling out other differential diagnoses, confirmed the relatively rarely occurring condition known as isolated neck extensor myopathy. Biopsy of the neck extensor musculature was with classical pronounced fibrosis, without signs of myositis. The patient was treated with 3 cycles of corticosteroids with pronounced clinical improvement of his symptoms. This emphasizes the importance of considering isolated neck extensor myopathy as a differential diagnosis when encountered with a patient with dropped head syndrome and the importance of trying therapy with corticosteroids even when myositis is absent.