Ultrasonography of MADSAM neuropathy: focal nerve enlargements at sites of existing and resolved conduction blocks

Ultrasound of the peripheral nerves in systemic vasculitic neuropathies

INTRODUCTION

Ultrasound of the peripheral nerves (PNUS) can be used to visualize nerve pathologies in polyneuropathies (PNP). The aim of this study was to investigate, whether PNUS provides additional information in patients with proven systemic vasculitic neuropathies (VN).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Systematic ultrasound measurements of several peripheral nerves, the vagal nerve and the 6th cervical nerve root were performed in 14 patients and 22 healthy controls. Nerve conduction studies of the corresponding nerves were undertaken. Finally, the measured results were compared to a study population of demyelinating immune-mediated and axonal neuropathies.

RESULTS

Patients with VN displayed significant smaller amplitudes of compound muscle action potentials (CMAP) (p<0.05) and sensory nerve action potentials (SNAP) compared to healthy controls, while conduction velocity did not differ between groups. The mean nerve cross-sectional areas (CSA) were increased in several peripheral nerves compared to the controls, most prominent in tibial and fibular nerve (p<0.01). PNUS revealed nerve enlargement in most of the clinically and electrophysiologically affected nerves (22 out of 31) in VN. Nerve enlargement was more often seen in vasculitic neuropathies than in other axonal neuropathies, but significantly rarer than in demyelinating neuropathies.

CONCLUSION

Focal CSA enlargement in one or more nerves in electrophysiologically axonal neuropathies can be a hint for VN and thus facilitate diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.

Ultrasonographic findings in hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies

OBJECTIVES

The aims of this study were to evaluate the sonographic findings of patients with hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies (HNPP) and to examine the correlation between sonographic and electrophysiological findings.

METHODS

Nine patients whose electrophysiological findings indicated HNPP and whose diagnosis was confirmed by genetic analysis were enrolled in the study. The median, ulnar, peroneal, and tibial nerves were evaluated by ultrasonography.

RESULTS

We ultrasonographically evaluated 18 median, ulnar, peroneal, and tibial nerves. Nerve enlargement was identified in the median, ulnar, and peroneal nerves at the typical sites of compression. None of the patients had nerve enlargement at a site of noncompression. None of the tibial nerves had increased cross-sectional area (CSA) values. There were no significant differences in median, ulnar, and peroneal nerve distal motor latencies (DMLs) between the patients with an increased CSA and those with a normal CSA. In most cases, there was no correlation between electrophysiological abnormalities and clinical or sonographic findings.

DISCUSSION

Although multiple nerve enlargements at typical entrapment sites on sonographic evaluation can suggest HNPP, ultrasonography cannot be used as a diagnostic tool for HNPP. Ultrasonography may contribute to the differential diagnosis of HNPP and other demyelinating polyneuropathies or compression neuropathies; however, further studies are required.

Different patterns of nerve enlargement in polyneuropathy subtypes as detected by ultrasonography

The purpose of our study was to examine how the pathologic type of polyneuropathy affects nerve size as assessed by high-resolution ultrasonography with a 15 MHz transducer. Cross-sectional area (CSA) of the C5-C7 nerve roots and several upper and lower limb nerves at multiple sites was measured in 38 patients with acquired diffuse sensorimotor demyelinating or axonal polyneuropathy and in 34 healthy control subjects. Significant differences were found among the groups for all nerve and root segments: Both types of polyneuropathy are characterized by nerve enlargement in comparison to controls, but in different patterns. In demyelinating polyneuropathies, an additional degree of nerve thickening appears in proximal upper limb nerves and cervical nerve roots compared with axonal polyneuropathies. With respect to the other nerves, a similar degree of nerve enlargement was observed in both patient groups. These results highlight that ultrasonography may be a complementary tool in differentiating polyneuropathies.

Correlation of nerve ultrasound, electrophysiological and clinical findings in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

We present the nerve ultrasound findings in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) and examine their correlation with electrophysiology and functional disability.

METHODS

A total of 75 healthy controls and 48 CIDP patients underwent clinical, sonographic and electrophysiological evaluation a mean of 3.9 years(SD+/-2.7) after disease onset.

RESULTS

Nerve ultrasound revealed statistically significant higher cross-sectional area (CSA) values of the median (P<.0001), ulnar (P<.0001), radial (P<.0001), tibial (P<.0001), fibular nerve(P<.0001) in most of the anatomic sites and brachial plexus (supraclavicular, P<.0001;interscalene space, P = .0118),when compared to controls. The electroneurography documented signs of permanent axonal loss in the majority of peripheral nerves. A correlation between sonographic and electrophysiological findings was found only between the motor conduction velocity and CSA of the tibial nerve at the ankle (r = -.451, P = .007). Neither nerve sonography nor electrophysiology correlated with functional disability. The CSA of the median nerve in carpal tunnel and the ulnar nerve in Guyon's canal correlated with disease duration (P = .036, P = .027 respectively).

DISCUSSION

CIDP seems to show inhomogenous CSA enlargement in brachial plexus and peripheral nerves, with weak correlation to electrophysiological findings. Neither nerve sonography nor electrophysiology correlated with functional disability in CIDP patients. Multicenter, prospective studies are required to proof the applicability and diagnostic values of these findings.

Measurement of ultrasonic attenuation in diabetic neuropathic sciatic nerves for diagnostic and therapeutic applications

Measurements of ultrasonic attenuation in the sciatic nerves of rats were performed to verify the feasibility of ultrasound diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy and to avoid damage to the nerves caused by overheating in pain management applications. A rat model of diabetic peripheral neuropathy was established. The proximal-segment and middle-segment sciatic nerves of control and neuropathic rats were dissected for the attenuation measurement. Two commercial ultrasound transducers and a self-developed experimental platform were used in the measurements. Using H&E staining and transmission electron (TE) microscopy, morphological analysis of the control and neuropathic nerves was performed to determine the relationship between attenuation and the histology of the nerves. The experimental results showed that the attenuation coefficients of the control, second-week, fourth-week, and eighth-week neuropathic nerves were -6.68 ± 0.50, -5.61 ± 0.34, -6.27 ± 0.40, and -7.10 ± 0.35 dB/cm at 2.68 MHz, respectively. The respective values at 7.50 MHz were -14.96 ± 0.79, -12.65 ± 0.28, -13.98 ± 1.07, and -16.00 ± 0.54 dB/cm. The changes in the attenuation coefficients were significantly different among the second-week, fourth-week, and eighth-week DN nerves. Additionally, the ultrasonic attenuation coefficient of the rat sciatic nerve was fourfold that of the cat brain and cow liver and twofold that of human muscle.

Thinning of cervical nerve roots and peripheral nerves in ALS as measured by sonography

OBJECTIVE

Progressive atrophy and loss of motor axons is a hallmark of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Limited sonographic data are available on potential detection of atrophy of peripheral nerves and nerve roots in ALS.

METHODS

Patients with either definite or probable ALS and control subjects underwent sonographic evaluation of the cervical roots (C5, C6, and C7) and peripheral nerves (median and ulnar nerves) on the right. These diameters and cross-sectional areas (C6, median, and ulnar nerves) were compared.

RESULTS

The diameters and cross-sectional areas were consistently smaller in ALS than in controls. No correlation was present between the sonographic parameters and the disease severity, disease duration, age, or gender. The overall sensitivity and specificity tended to be greater in the cervical nerve roots than in the peripheral nerves.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows atrophy of cervical nerve roots and peripheral nerves in ALS detected by sonography. Cervical nerve roots might be more appropriate to detect motor axon loss than peripheral nerves.

SIGNIFICANCE

Sonographic evaluation of nerve roots and peripheral nerves may be a useful disease marker in ALS to confirm the diagnosis and to potentially monitor the disease progression.

[2012 literature review on peripheral neuropathies: immune neuropathies (treatments excluded)]

In 2012, interest remains high in the field of dysimmune neuropathies, chiefly concerning Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). The pathophysiological mechanisms are now better known but electrophysiological criteria should be updated. The risk of GBS in H1N1 vaccination is now well evaluated. Nerve ultrasonography provides new prospects for diagnosis and follow-up of dysimmune neuropathies but cannot substitute for electrophysiology. This paper aims to present some noteworthy articles published in 2012 in the field of dysimmune neuropathies.

Ultrasound of inherited vs. acquired demyelinating polyneuropathies

We compared features of nerve enlargement in inherited and acquired demyelinating neuropathies using ultrasound. We measured median and ulnar nerve cross-sectional areas in proximal and distal regions in 128 children and adults with inherited [Charcot-Marie-Tooth-1 (CMT-1) (n = 35)] and acquired [chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) (n = 55), Guillaine-Barre syndrome (GBS) (n = 21) and multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) (n = 17)] demyelinating neuropathies. We classified nerve enlargement by degree and number of regions affected. We defined patterns of nerve enlargement as: none, no enlargement; mild, nerves enlarged but never more than twice normal; regional, nerves normal in at least one region and enlarged more than twice normal in at least one region; diffuse, nerves enlarged at all four regions with at least one region more than twice normal size. Nerve enlargement was commonly diffuse (89 %) and generally more than twice normal size in CMT-1, but not (p < 0.001) in acquired disorders which mostly had either no, mild or regional nerve enlargement [CIDP (64 %), GBS (95 %), and MMN (100 %)]. In CIDP, subjects treated within 3 months of disease onset had less nerve enlargement than those treated later. Ultrasound identified patterns of diffuse nerve enlargement can be used to screen patients suspected of having CMT-1. Normal, mildly, or regionally enlarged nerves in demyelinating polyneuropathy suggests an acquired etiology. Early treatment in CIDP may impede nerve enlargement.

Ultrasonographic reference sizes of the median and ulnar nerves and the cervical nerve roots in healthy Japanese adults

The objective of this study was to identify, for practical use, ultrasonographic reference values for nerve sizes at multiple sites, including entrapment and non-entrapment sites along the median and ulnar nerves and among the cervical nerve roots. We verified reliable sites and site-based differences between the reference values. In addition, we found associations between the reference nerve sizes and several physical characteristics (gender, dominant hand, age, height, weight, body mass index [BMI] and wrist circumference). Nerves were measured bilaterally at 26 sites or levels in 60 healthy Japanese adults (29 males; age, 35.4 ± 9.7 y; BMI, 22.3 ± 3.6 kg/m(2); wrist circumference, 16.0 ± 1.3 cm on the right side and 15.9 ± 1.2 cm on the left side). The mean reference nerve sizes were 5.6-9.1 mm(2) along the median nerve, 4.1-6.7 mm(2) along the ulnar nerve and 2.14-3.39 mm among the cervical nerve roots. Multifactorial regression analyses revealed that the physical characteristics most strongly associated with nerve size were age, BMI and wrist circumference at the entrapment sites (F = 7.6, p < 0.01, at the pisiform bone level of the carpal tunnel; F = 15.1, p < 0.001, at the level of Guyon's canal), as well as wrist circumference and gender at the non-entrapment sites (F = 70.6, p < 0.001, along the median nerve; F = 24.7, p < 0.001, along the ulnar nerve). Our results suggest that the factors with the greatest influence on nerve size differed between entrapment and non-entrapment sites. Site-based differences in nerve size were determined using one-way analyses of variance (p < 0.001). Intra- and inter-observer reliability was highest for the median nerve, at both the distal wrist crease and mid-humerus; at the arterial split along the ulnar nerve; and at the fifth cervical nerve root level. No systematic error was indicated by Bland-Altman analysis; the coefficients of variation were 5.5%-9.2% for intra-observer reliability and 7.1%-8.7% for inter-observer reliability.

Ultrasound assessment of sural nerve in Charcot-Marie-Tooth 1A neuropathy

OBJECTIVE

Nerve ultrasound (US) has been used to study peripheral nerve disease, and increase of the cross-sectional area (CSA) has been described in demyelinating polyneuropathy. The objective of the current study is to characterise the US features of the sural nerve in a sample of Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) 1A patients.

METHODS

A total of 20 CMT1A patients were enrolled. As control group we studied 37 age- and sex-matched subjects. All patients underwent clinical examination, neurophysiology and US evaluation of the bilateral sural nerve and right ulnar nerve. US results were correlated with neurophysiology and clinical data.

RESULTS

Sural nerve CSA was not increased in the majority of patients (70%), whereas an increased ulnar nerve CSA was present in the whole sample. Inverse relations were found between CSA of the ulnar nerve and body mass index (BMI) (p<0.0002, R=-0.8) and CSA of the sural nerve and age (right 0.006, R=-0.6, left 0.002, R=-0.6 and left and right p=0.00003, R=-0.4).

CONCLUSIONS

US showed ulnar CSA enlargement and normal sural nerve CSA.

SIGNIFICANCE

The significance of normal sural nerve CSA in CMT1A patients need to be further investigated, possibly through longitudinal studies.