Incidental severe fatty degeneration of the erector spinae in a patient with L5-S1 disc extrusion diagnosed with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy R2 dysferin-related

Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type R2 dysferin-related (LGMD R2 dysferin-related), a phenotype of dysferlinopathy, usually begins with pelvic girdle weakness. A 35-year-old male presented with right leg pain for 2 weeks without a previous history of limb weakness. Magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine showed disc extrusion at L5-S1 and incidental severe fatty degeneration of the lumbar erector spinae. Physical examination demonstrated no definite limb weakness. Serum creatine kinase levels were elevated. Genetic testing using a targeted gene-sequencing panel identified compound heterozygous variants NM_003494.3(DYSF) c.[1284+2T>C]; [5303G>A]. Computed tomography revealed fatty degeneration of lower-limb muscles, which was mild in the adductor muscles and severe in the gluteus minimus. Immunohistochemistry staining of the vastus lateralis showed under-expression of dysferlin. This patient was diagnosed with LGMD R2 dysferin-related. Thus, unusual fatty degeneration of the lumbar paraspinalis can be a manifestation of dysferlinopathy.