Calf Hypertrophy

Calf Hypertrophy

Calf enlargement has many causes; it may reflect true hypertrophy (enlargement of muscle fibers) or, more commonly, pseudohypertrophy, due to infiltration with tissue elements other than muscle.

Hypertrophy may be due to neuromuscular disorders producing:

• Chronic partial denervation, for example:
  • radiculopathy
  • peripheral neuropathy
  • spinal muscular atrophy
  • following paralytic poliomyelitis.
• Continuous muscle activity, for example:
  • myotonia congenita
  • Isaacs syndrome (neuromyotonia)
  • generalized myokymia.

Pseudohypertrophy may be due to:

• Dystrophinopathies (Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Becker dystrophy), due to excess connective tissue.
• Infection/inflammation: myositis
• Infiltration: amyloidosis, tumor, cysticercosis

 

References

Coles A, Dick D. Unilateral calf hypertrophy. Journal of Neurology,Neurosurgery and Psychiatry 2004; 75: 1606
Wilson H, Kidd D, Howard RS, Williams AJ, Spencer GT. Calf hypertrophy following paralytic poliomyelitis. Postgraduate Medical Journal2000; 76: 179-181

 

Cross References

Gowers’ sign; Muscle hypertrophy; Myokymia; Myotonia; Neuromyotonia