The electrodiagnosis of neuropathy: basic principles and common pitfalls.
Electrodiagnostic studies are a critical tool for the identification and study of peripheral neuropathy, enabling definition of the pathophysiologic type of nerve injury, its distribution, severity, and the degree of motor or sensory nerve involvement. These data help to differentiate the varieties of neuropathy from other neuromuscular diseases. Nerve conduction studies and electromyography, although widely performed, are complex techniques and are subject to a wide range of artifacts, which can result in missed or erroneous diagnoses. Without proper education, training, and experience in neuromuscular disease and the techniques of electrodiagnosis and careful attention to potential sources of error, the critical information needed to properly diagnose and treat patients with neuropathy is unreliable and may lead to wasted resources and patient injury.
Gooch
Clifton L
CL
Columbia Neuropathy Research Center, Electromyography Laboratory, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, 710 West 168(th) Street, New York, NY 10032, USA. clg33@columbia.edu
Weimer
Louis H
LH
D000368:Aged; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D004576:Electromyography / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013696:Temperature