Diagnosis of diaphragmatic paralysis using ultrasound in a cervical herpes zoster patient: A case report

ABSTRACT

Herpes zoster is a varicella-zoster virus reactivation that is characterized by pain and rash. It can cause motor paresis on affecting muscles, but diaphragmatic paralysis is a rare complication. Methods of evaluation of diaphragmatic paralysis include plain radiography, fluoroscopy and electroneurography. The direct movement of diaphragmatic muscles on ultrasound can also be used to diagnose diaphragmatic paralysis. We reported a case of a 72-year-old woman who developed left hemidiaphragmatic paralysis after herpes zoster. The diaphragmatic paralysis occurred 3 weeks after appearance of a typical skin rash on the left C4-5 dermatomes. We diagnosed diaphragmatic paralysis using ultrasound.