STRENGTHENING the global effort to CURE neuromuscular disease

The 2024 Best Abstract Runner-Up has been awarded to Michael P. Skolka, MD, for his abstract, “Neurologic Clinical, Electrophysiologic, and Pathologic Characteristics of Primary Versus Secondary Neurolymphomatosis.” 

The abstract reviews Dr. Skolka and his team’s project, which analyzes the neurologic clinical, electrophysiologic, and pathologic characteristics of patients with nerve biopsy proven neurolymphomatosis (NL) and compares and contrasts patients with primary NL versus secondary NL. He says there are several key messages from this project. First, they found that patients who present with painful, asymmetric, and subacute progressive neuropathies should be evaluated for NL as a potential cause for their neuropathy. Second, MRI scans better detected NL than FDG-PET/CT imaging. Third, patients with secondary neurolymphomatosis (SNL) also had more evidence of axonal loss and multifocal myelinated fiber loss on their nerve biopsies compared to primary NL (PNL). Lastly, he says that identifying SNL is important because the diagnosis results in a poorer prognosis compared to PNL and alters treatment management in the SNL patient group. 

Dr. Skolka’s team was motivated to conduct this research due to a lack of data in the literature for patients with NL. He notes the importance of identifying signs of NL, understanding what to look for during evaluation, and the overall long-term prognosis for patients, particularly those with SNL. Dr. Skolka says he was looking forward to submitting his team’s project. “AANEM is a great organization that supports NM research, so I was excited to submit this project for presentation at their annual [meeting]. I think there are several key messages that will help NM providers in clinics everywhere, and I would encourage anyone attending the annual meeting to stop by the poster hall, see the many projects displayed there, and come say hello!” 

Going forward, Dr. Skolka hopes to continue clinical, EMG, and NM pathology associated research moving forward as an early-career academic NM physician. He is grateful to Dr. Jim Dyck and his other mentors at AANEM and Mayo Clinic, who have helped him and, according to Dr. Skolka, made it possible for him to receive this award.

Dr. Skolka's abstract will be presented at the 2024 AANEM Annual Meeting in Savannah, Georgia, Oct. 15-18 among all abstracts, including the Best Abstract Award, Technologist Best Abstract Award, Pediatric Research Award, Residency and Fellowship Member Award, Medical Student Award, and President's Research Award abstracts.