title: Peripheral Nerve Ultrasound in Small Fiber Polyneuropathy.
abstract: Routine nerve conduction studies are normal in patients with small fiber neuropathy (SFN), and a definitive diagnosis is based on skin biopsy revealing reduced intra-epidermal nerve fiber density (IENFD). In large fiber polyneuropathy, ultrasound (US) parameters indicate enlargement in cross-sectional area (CSA). This study was aimed at determining if similar changes in large fibers on US are apparent in patients with SFN. Twenty-five patients with SFN diagnosed by reduced IENFD and 25 age- and body mass index (BMI)-matched healthy controls underwent US studies of sural and superficial peroneal sensory nerves. The mean CSA of the sural nerve in SFN patients was 3.2 ± 0.8 mm(2), and in controls, 2.7 ± 0.6 mm(2) (p < 0.0070), and this was independent of sex. There was no difference in the thickness-to-width ratio or echogenicity of the nerves. US of the sural nerve in patients diagnosed with small fiber neuropathy reveals an enlarged cross-sectional area similar to that in large fiber polyneuropathy.
authors: Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors: Hamid
authors: H
authors: Ebadi
authors: Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors: Hafsah
authors: H
authors: Siddiqui
authors: Division of Engineering Science, Faculty of Applied Sciences and Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors: Sepehr
authors: S
authors: Ebadi
authors: Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors: MyLan
authors: M
authors: Ngo
authors: Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors: Ari
authors: A
authors: Breiner
authors: Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: vera.bril@utoronto.ca.
authors: Vera
authors: V
authors: Bril
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011115:Polyneuropathies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: Diagnosis; Polyneuropathy; Sensory nerves; Small fiber neuropathy; Ultrasound