title: Diagnostic usefulness and limitations of the sural nerve biopsy.
abstract: In recent years, the sural nerve biopsy has become a commonly performed procedure in the diagnostic work-up of patients with peripheral neuropathy. This paper reviews the diagnostic usefulness and limitations of this procedure. Based on 385 sural nerve biopsies, we found clinically helpful or relevant information in 45% of cases. In 24% of cases, specific diagnoses were obtained, among which vasculitic neuropathy was most common.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Alabama, Birmingham.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Oh
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006652:Histological Techniques; D006801:Humans; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013127:Spinal Nerves / Q000473:pathology*; D013497:Sural Nerve / Q000473:pathology*