Somatosensory evoked potentials after magnetic stimulation at different points of the body in normal subjects and in patients with syringomyelia.
Somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) were elicited by magnetic stimulation of the tibial nerve, gastrocnemic muscle and by stimulation over the spinous processes of lumbar vertebra 5 (L 5), thoracic vertebra 9 (Th 9) and cervical vertebra 7 (C 7). The first SEP-positivity (P1-latency) was measured in a group of 20 controls and in another group of 18 patients with syringomyelia. The P1-latencies of the latter group following the stimulations over Th 9 and C 7 were significantly longer than those of the controls. Furthermore a correlation between electrophysiological findings and clinical data of the patients could be proven. Thus the method emerged as an appropriate tool for the investigation of the central part of the sensory system and for the diagnosis of spinal abnormalities.
Masur
H
H
Department of Neurology, University of Münster, Germany.
Klostermann
F
F
Oberwittler
C
C
Papke
K
K
D000328:Adult; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008280:Magnetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011930:Reaction Time; D012016:Reference Values; D013595:Syringomyelia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*