title: Skin biopsy in assessing meralgia paresthetica.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Meralgia paresthetica is a focal neuropathy caused by compression of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN). The disease can be difficult to assess by neurophysiological or imaging studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 5 patients who presented to our neuromuscular clinic from April 2012 to December 2014 with a clinical suspicion of meralgia paresthetica and had skin biopsies with intraepidermal nerve fiber density (IENFD) evaluation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age at onset was 37.2 (range 21-59) years. There were 4 women and 1 man. Two were obese, 2 wore tight jeans, and 1 had mild diabetes mellitus. IENFD was reduced in the symptomatic proximal thigh in all 5 patients and was also reduced in the asymptomatic thigh in 2 patients. It was normal in the distal leg in 4 patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Meralgia paresthetica is associated with loss of small intraepidermal nerve fibers. Skin biopsy with IENFD evaluation may be a useful diagnostic tool for this disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Icahn Medical School of Mount Sinai, 1468 Madison Avenue, Box 1052, New York, New York, 10029, USA.
authors.forename: Arada
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wongmek
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Icahn Medical School of Mount Sinai, 1468 Madison Avenue, Box 1052, New York, New York, 10029, USA.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Icahn Medical School of Mount Sinai, 1468 Madison Avenue, Box 1052, New York, New York, 10029, USA.
authors.forename: Lan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D020428:Femoral Neuropathy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012867:Skin / Q000294:innervation* / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: diagnosis; intraepidermal nerve fiber density; lateral femoral cutaneous nerve; meralgia paresthetica; skin biopsy