title: Contribution of ultrasound in the assessment of patients with suspect idiopathic pudendal nerve disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess if Ultrasound (US) is contributive in patients suspected of having idiopathic pudendal neuralgia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between July 2012 and April 2013, 10 consecutive female patients with suspected idiopathic pudendal neuralgia (mean age: 47±14 years; mean BMI: 24±3) were included. Two radiologists blinded to the clinical and neurophysiological data performed pudendal nerve evaluation with broadband linear array transducers (12-7 MHZ, and 17-5 MHZ). MRI was added to confirm US data. A third independent clinician, who did not perform electrodiagnosis and US, reviewed the data and scored US as "contributive" or "non-contributive": if US confirmed the clinical and neurophysiological diagnosis or if US findings were not useful.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ultrasound identified alterations to the pudendal nerve in 7/10 of cases (70%). In seven cases US revealed the presence of a diffusely or focally enlarged pudendal nerve confirmed by MRI. In these cases neurophysiological findings were suspicious for pudendal neuralgia in 5/7 cases, whereas in 2/7 cases they were inconclusive.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High-resolution ultrasound (US) may demonstrate alterations to the pudendal nerve in patients with pudendal neuralgia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  US is useful in patients with suspected idiopathic pudendal nerve disease.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Anatomy, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, Via de Toni 14, 16132 Genoa, Italy. Electronic address: albertotagliafico@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tagliafico
authors.affiliation: Radiology Department, DISSAL, Università di Genova, Largo Rosanna Benzi 8, 16138 Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Bianca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bignotti
authors.affiliation: Unit of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapy, Faculty of Medicine (C Bellvitge), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Maribel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miguel Perez
authors.affiliation: Neurology Department, AOU San Martino-IST, Largo Rosanna Benzi 8, 16138 Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Lizia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Reni
authors.affiliation: Division of Neuroradiology and Musculoskeletal Radiology, Department of Radiology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bodner
authors.affiliation: Radiology Department, DISSAL, Università di Genova, Largo Rosanna Benzi 8, 16138 Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martinoli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004568:Electrodiagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D009431:Neural Conduction; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011187:Posture; D011446:Prospective Studies; D060525:Pudendal Nerve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: Anatomy; Entrapment; Magnetic resonance imaging; Pathology; Perineal nerves; Pudendal nerve; Ultrasound