Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society

The Korean Neurosurgical Society (대한신경외과학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Usefulness of Ultrasound for Detecting Suspected Peripheral Nerve Lesions in Diagnosis of Peripheral Neuropathy : Case Report and Brief Review of the Literature

  • Jung, Jae-Hyun (Department of Neurosurgery, Sannae Wooridle Neurosurgical Clinic) ;
  • Kim, Kwang-Hai (Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Yonsei Orthopedic Clinic) ;
  • Choi, Soon-Kyoo (Department of Neurosurgery, Madi Neurosurgical Clinic) ;
  • Shim, Jae-Hyun (Department of Neurosurgery, Chungdam Madi Neurosurgical Clinic)
  • Received : 2012.08.23
  • Accepted : 2013.02.04
  • Published : 2013.02.28
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Ultrasound scanning of a peripheral nerve along its expected course is a simple and useful method for determining the cause of peripheral neuropathy. We present 3 cases of peripheral neuropathy in which the pathology was detected by simple ultrasound scanning of the affected nerve. There were 2 cases of entrapment neuropathy due to mucoid cyst and 1 case of nerve sheath tumor. All lesions were visualized by simple ultrasound scanning of the involved peripheral nerve. Our results suggest that if a lesion affecting the peripheral nerve is suspected after history and physical examination or electrophysiologic studies, ultrasound scanning of the peripheral nerve of interest throughout its course is very helpful for identifying the causative lesion.

Keywords

References

  1. Beekman R, van den Berg LH, Franssen H, Visser LH, van Asseldonk JT, Wokke JH : Ultrasonography shows extensive nerve enlargements in multifocal motor neuropathy. Neurology 65 : 305-307, 2005 https://doi.org/10.1212/01.wnl.0000169179.67764.30
  2. Beekman R, Visser LH : High-resolution sonography of the peripheral nervous system -- a review of the literature. Eur J Neuro 11 : 305-314, 2004 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-1331.2004.00773.x
  3. Bianchi S, Martinoli C : Ultrasound of the Musculoskeletal System. Germany : Springer, 2007, pp100-102
  4. Cheng JW, Tang SF, Yu TY, Chou SW, Wong AM, Tsai WC : Sonographic features of soft tissue tumors in the hand and forearm. Chang Gung Med J 30 : 547-554, 2007
  5. Du R, Auguste KI, Chin CT, Engstrom JW, Weinstein PR : Magnetic resonance neurography for the evaluation of peripheral nerve, brachial plexus, and nerve root disorders. J Neurosurg 112 : 362-371, 2010 https://doi.org/10.3171/2009.7.JNS09414
  6. Fowler JR, Gaughan JP, Ilyas AM : The sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound for the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome : a meta-analysis. Clin Orthop Relat Res 469 : 1089-1094, 2011 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-010-1637-5
  7. Iannicelli E, Almberger M, Chianta GA, Salvini V, Rossi G, Monacelli G, et al. : High resolution ultrasonography in the diagnosis of the carpal tunnel syndrome. Radiol Med 110 : 623-629, 2005
  8. Koenig RW, Pedro MT, Heinen CP, Schmidt T, Richter HP, Antoniadis G, et al. : High-resolution ultrasonography in evaluating peripheral nerve entrapment and trauma. Neurosurg Focus 26 : E13, 2009
  9. Lee HY, Lee JC, Kim IM, Lee CY, Son EI, Kim DW, et al. : The value of MRI in diagnosis of peripheral nerve disorders. J Korean Neurosurg Soc 30 : 1120-1126, 2001
  10. Martinoli C, Bianchi S, Gandolfo N, Valle M, Simonetti S, Derchi LE : US of nerve entrapments in osteofibrous tunnels of the upper and lower limbs. Radiographics 20 Spec No : S199-S213; discussion S213-S217, 2000 https://doi.org/10.1148/radiographics.20.suppl_1.g00oc08s199
  11. Mhoon JT, Juel VC, Hobson-Webb LD : Median nerve ultrasound as a screening tool in carpal tunnel syndrome : correlation of cross-sectional area measures with electrodiagnostic abnormality. Muscle Nerve 46 : 871-878, 2012 https://doi.org/10.1002/mus.23424
  12. Ng ES, Vijayan J, Therimadasamy AK, Tan TC, Chan YC, Lim A, et al. : High resolution ultrasonography in the diagnosis of ulnar nerve lesions with particular reference to post-traumatic lesions and sites outside the elbow. Clin Neurophysiol 122 : 188-189, 2011 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinph.2010.04.035
  13. Volpe A, Rossato G, Bottanelli M, Marchetta A, Caramaschi P, Bambara LM, et al. : Ultrasound evaluation of ulnar neuropathy at the elbow : correlation with electrophysiological studies. Rheumatology (Oxford) 48 : 1098-1101, 2009 https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/kep167
  14. Walker FO, Cartwright MS : Neuromuscular ultrasound : emerging from the twilight. Muscle Nerve 43 : 777-779, 2011 https://doi.org/10.1002/mus.22062
  15. Wilder-Smith EP : Nerve Ultrasound : ready for clinical practice? Neurol Asia 17 : 1-4, 2012
  16. Wu S, Liu G, Tu R : Value of ultrasonography in neurilemmoma diagnosis : the role of round shape morphology. Med Ultrason 14 : 192-196, 2012
  17. Yoon JS, Walker FO, Cartwright MS : Ulnar neuropathy with normal electrodiagnosis and abnormal nerve ultrasound. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 91 : 318-320, 2010 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2009.10.010

Cited by

  1. Ultrasound Diagnosis of Double Crush Syndrome of the Ulnar Nerve by the Anconeus Epitrochlearis and a Ganglion vol.59, pp.1, 2013, https://doi.org/10.3340/jkns.2016.59.1.75