@article{12856,
  author = {Jayashri Srinivasan and Stephanie Scala and Royden Jones and Firas Saleh and James A. Russell},
  title = {Inappropriate surgeries resulting from misdiagnosis of early amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.},
  abstract = {<p>Initial symptoms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) may mimic radiculopathy, myelopathy, mononeuropathy, or arthropathy. A retrospective review of 260 consecutive patients with ALS evaluated between 1996 and 2004 revealed that 55 (21%) had had surgery within the 5 years prior to ALS diagnosis. Thirty-four of these 55 (61%) had surgery for symptoms and signs that retrospectively were attributable to early manifestations of ALS. Misdiagnosis of early ALS may lead to unnecessary surgeries with their attendant potential complications.</p>},
  year = {2006},
  journal = {Muscle Nerve},
  volume = {34},
  pages = {359-60},
  month = {09/2006},
  issn = {0148-639X},
  language = {eng},
}