Avoiding false positive diagnoses of motor neuron disease: lessons from the Scottish Motor Neuron Disease Register.

Abstract

Patients with MND should undergo thorough and relevant investigations at presentation with the emphasis on neuroradiological imaging and neurophysiology; all patients should be followed up by an experienced neurologist, particularly those in whom symptoms and signs are restricted to either the bulbar or spinal muscles; failure of symptom progression or development of atypical features should lead to an early reassessment; finally, patients should be informed of the diagnosis only when it is secure.